The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has said that the Supreme Court is overwhelmed with too many cases.
He spoke about this issue during his farewell ceremony at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
Ariwoola, who stepped down as Chief Justice yesterday, explained that many of the cases currently at the Supreme Court should have ended at the appellate court, noting that the large number of cases causes delays, making it difficult for people to get justice quickly.
He emphasized that fair hearing can only happen when cases are heard on time, and to achieve this, more judges are needed to handle the workload.
Beyond Boders recalls that Ariwoola became the acting Chief Justice in June 2022 after Justice Tanko Muhammad resigned due to health issues. He was confirmed as Chief Justice in October 2022.
Ariwoola started his legal career after graduating from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) with a law degree in 1980.
He became a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2011 and previously served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2011. On August 22, 2024, Ariwoola turned 70.
In the meantime, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu for the position of the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.
