He has called upon judges in Nigeria to consistently apply constitutional provisions in their decisions on cases brought before them.

Justice Ariwoola made this clarification during the inauguration of 23 Judges for the Federal High Court of Nigeria at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

He acknowledged that the judiciary frequently faces harsh criticism, but he stressed that public opinion, regardless of its seriousness, cannot take precedence over the Constitution.

The CJN explained that judicial officers have a responsibility to uphold moral rectitude and acceptable conduct while earning the trust of the Nigerian populace, especially those who rely on them for justice.

He emphasized the importance of the judicial oath and the need for judges to be above temptations and trials.

Justice Ariwoola stated, “The bench is neither for the indolent, the greedy nor those with dubious character, who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants.

“You must, at all times, rise above temptations and trials that might obstruct or even halt your rise to the pinnacle of your career. We are all humans, no doubt, but you display the humanism in you by doing those extraordinary things that people would ordinarily conclude that you cannot do.”

He highlighted that judicial appointments are not pathways to wealth, dishonesty, or ostentatious lifestyles through corrupt connections, emphasizing that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has the means to detect and address any form of corruption or misconduct among judicial officers.

The CJN concluded by reminding the newly appointed judges of their duty to be impartial, fair, and just in all matters they preside over.

He stressed the importance of upholding justice, especially in the challenging times Nigeria faces.

Justice Ariwoola emphasized the vital role judges play in upholding the Constitution and ensuring justice for all citizens, while also warning against any unethical behavior that may tarnish the judiciary’s reputation.

The apex court also debunked claims that five Justices of the Court have demanded resignation from office by the CJN over the same issue.

In a statement by the Director of Information and Press of the Court, Dr Festus Akande, the apex Court warned those peddling the rumours to desist in their own interests.

The reaction of the Supreme Court is in response to a publication by an online medium, which reported that Justice Ariwoola has been grilled by DSS over his alleged political remarks in Port Harcourt at a public function.

The statement read in part, “We have read with dismay and shock a publication with the above caption by an online media outfit, “People’s Gazette,” alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was grilled by the DSS for the remarks he made in ‘Port Harcourt at a state banquet’ and that ‘five Justices of Supreme Court are calling for his resignation.’

“Just like our earlier press statement debunking this barefaced falsehood and mischievous antics aimed at scoring very cheap and unpopular political gains in this era of aggressive and mudslinging politicking, we wish to state in very clear and unmistaken terms, that this is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with an unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of not just the CJN but several other Judicial Officers that they considered to be too unpliable and principled to be approached for any form of underhand dealings, especially as election cases (petitions) will soon be streaming to the tribunals (courts) for adjudication.”

According to the statement, it had become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial Officers, starting from the CJN with a view to arm-twisting and blackmailing and ridiculing them to silence, ultimately for their ulterior motives.

The statement further added that the publication is laced with tissues of lies, non-existent sources of information and unsubstantiated claims and it clearly showed the unwholesome intentions of the authors.

It also clarified that no single Justice of the Supreme has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever.

“Neither the CJN nor the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court or other Courts for that matter, are politicians, so, none of them should be dragged into politics in any form whatsoever.

“Our advice to this set of rabble-rousers whose stock in trade is character assassination via dissemination of false information to create tension and disaffection is to have a rethink and engage in meaningful productive activities that will move the nation forward. A word is enough for the wise,” the statement said.

This is against the earlier announced date of November 21, 2022, which was in order to accommodate other programmes slated for the Court’s new legal year.

The Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande issued this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The swearing-in ceremony is one of the several programmes lined up to formally usher-in the 2022/2023 legal year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

During the legal year, the CJN will deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address to highlight the performance of the Apex Court and the Nigerian Judiciary in the outgoing 2021/2022 legal year.

The statement recalled that out of the 174 applicants for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2022, 62 were successful at the end of the selection exercise.

The statement indicated that out of the number, 53 are advocates, while 9 are academics.

The Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation after a 2021/2022 legal year on July 23, 2022.

Though the Court had started sitting since September 12, 2022, the new legal year ceremony is now being formally held in line with the Supreme Court’s tradition.

This was according to a statement by the Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande.

Justice Ariwoola became substantive CJN on Wednesday, October 12, following the administration of the oath of office on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the statement, Justice Ariwoola’s first assignment in office would be the inauguration of the Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justice Stanley Adekunle Lawal.

The statement said Justice Lawal would be sworn in at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court at 11 am.

President Buhari had, on October 12, 2022, sworn-in Justice Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

Justice Ariwoola was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on June 27 this year, following the resignation of his immediate predecessor, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, on health grounds.

Justice Ariwoola took the judicial oath of office on Wednesday in a brief ceremony at the Council Chambers in Abuja before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President.

The ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ministers, other justices of the Supreme Court, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Justice Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court on November 22, 2011, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a media chat, the CJN appealed to politicians in the country to allow the judiciary to function optimally as the 2023 elections approach, promising reforms at the apex court.

Following the resignation of the outgone CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, on health grounds, Justice Ariwoola took over in an acting capacity.

The swearing-in comes a day after President Buhari conferred national honours to 449 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Justices Ariwoola and Justice Mohammed received the second highest national honour –the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

The swearing-in ceremony was held hours after Justice Tanko Muhammad’s resigned as CJN on Monday due to health reasons.

The ceremony was held at the Council Chambers, Aso Villa and attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Justices of the Supreme Court and other senior government officials.

Justice Ariwoola was born on the 22nd of August 1958 and is currently the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.

He was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal and was elevated to the Supreme Court bench following his transfer from the State High Court of Oyo State.

Details containing reasons for his resignation is still sketchy as at press time, Arise News Report.

But, it could be recall that a letter was recently leaked where justices of the Supreme Court expressed their concerns over their budgetary allocations that have not been increased in the last four years.

Some of the issues raised by the justices in the letter include the failure to replace dilapidated vehicles, accommodation problems, poor healthcare services at the Supreme Court clinic, and poor electricity supply.

The justices also lamented the increase in electricity tariffs, no modified allowances to reflect the increase in diesel prices, and lack of internet services in their chambers.

The justices called Mr Tanko’s attention to an internal memo served by the Chief Registrar, which notified judges that electricity would be supplied to the court between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily, due to the lack of diesel.

Other issues covered the non-signing of amended Court Rules, an abrupt stoppage of foreign workshops and training per annum for justices and no provision of qualified legal assistants.

As such, the judges called Mr Tanko’s sense of responsibility into question, fearing a potential shutdown of the judiciary due to the raised concerns.

Justice Tanko, while addressing the newly sworn judges asked the judges to conduct their affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath of office administered on them.

He reminded them that all eyes were on them and that they should avoid temptations, as their integrity was key.

The new justices of the Court of Appeal are Mohammed Danjuma (Niger State), Muhammad Sirajo (Plateau), Abdul-Azeez Waziri (Adamawa), Yusuf Bashir (Taraba), Usman Musale (Yobe), Ibrahim Jauro (Yobe), Abba Mohammed (Kano State), Bature Gafai (Katsina), Danlami Senchi (Kebbi), and Mohammed Abubakar (Sokoto).

Others are Hassan Sule (Zamfara), Kenneth Amadi (Imo), Peter Affen (Bayelsa), Sybil Gbagi (Delta), Olasunbo Goodluck (Lagos), Adebukola Banjoko (Ogun), Olabode Adegbehingbe (Ondo), and Bola Ademola (Ondo).

A drama played out when Justice Olasunbo Goodluck, a Christian, took her oath in the name of Allah during the swearing-in.

The CJN corrected her immediately and she took it in the name of God.

The CJN, however said it had become difficult to fault the idea of the strike since the rights of the union and its members which had been clearly defined in the constitution were being denied especially at state levels.

“I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the constitution. I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,” he said.

The CJN stated this during a meeting he had with JUSUN national leaders in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the CJN, Ahuraka Isah, the meeting was to give the CJN feedback on his recent demand on the union to call off the ongoing strike.

The CJN had, at an earlier meeting with JUSUN leaders on April 6, asked the union to call off the strike in view of its adverse effect on the justice system in the country.

But during the meeting on Wednesday, 22, JUSUN maintained its position on why it would not suspend the strike action.

The group said the action would only be suspended if state governors begin to demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place some measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary in their respective states.