Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is expected to take over as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad.
Bashir Ahmad, a former spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, confirmed this in a tweet on Monday. He said, “Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to be sworn-in as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buhari today.”
Muhammad resigned on Sunday night from his position on health grounds.
Ariwoola is the next most senior justice on the Supreme Court bench.
Below are four differences between Ariwoola and Muhammad:
1. Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1958 while Muhammad was born on December 31, 1953 in Bauchi.
2. Ariwoola studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) while Muhammad studied law at Ahmadu Bello University.
3. Ariwoola was a justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. On the other hand, Muhammad was appointed to the bench of the Courts of Appeal as justice in 1993. At the time of appointment, he was a judge at the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal.
4. Ariwoola was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 2011. Muhammad was elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court in 2006 but was sworn in on January 7, 2007.
One similarity between them is that they were both called to bar in 1981.
