Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has spoken about his plans after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as acting Chief Justice of the Federation.
Ariwoola promised not to fail Nigerians after taking over from Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the former CJN who resigned on Sunday evening on health grounds.
He stated this on Monday while speaking to State House Correspondents after taking the oath of office.
Ariwoola noted that with the support of his colleagues, the judiciary under him shall not fail Nigerians.
He said, “What Nigerians expect from me is to comply, preserve and abide and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And so be it. That is what I will do, especially with the cooperation of my brother Justices of the Supreme Court. We shall not fail Nigerians.”
Speaking on the current controversy at the supreme court, Ariwoola said, “There is no controversy in the Supreme Court. We are one with the Chief Justice. That’s why you heard the President say His Lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill-health. No controversy, we’re one.”
Concerning welfare issues highlighted in the letter addressed to the former CJN, he said, “It was an internal memo of the court. It was not a petition. It was not a letter. It was addressed by the brother Justices of the Chief Justice and presented to him, His Lordship, directly. There were issues to be resolved amongst justices.”
He assured that those issues would be resolved under his leadership; he said: “Yeah, we’ve started resolving.
