Supreme Court Clarifies CJN’s Age; NASS Begins Probe

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Supreme Court has laid to rest the controversy surrounding the true age of Justice Olukayode Ariowool, the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN following suggestions that he may have falsified his age.

Ariwoola succeeded Justice Tanko Muhammad who retired from the apex court due to health reasons.

The clarification comes after the National Assembly said it will probe the allegation of malfeasance against his predecessor who was on Monday conferred with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR by the president.

The new CJN is among 14 justices of the court, who last week, accused Muhammad of corruption.

After Ariwooola swearing in on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari, controversy had trailed his age after many Nigerians observed discrepancies in the information, he provided concerning his age.

The initial document he provided showed that he was born in 1958 and started primary school a year after in 1959, making many to wonder how that can be possible, as others said the new CJN may have falsified his age.

The earlier information on the court’s official website showed that Justice Ariwoola was born in Iseyin, Oyo state, on August 22, 1958 and began his primary education in 1959 at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole, in his hometown.

But the apex court’s spokesman Dr Festus Aweneri, has now clarified that Justice Ariwoola he was born in 1954 and not 1958 as information in the public space indicated.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the former CJN had a question to answer.

In a motion tagged: “State of Affairs in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Demand by Justices of the Court,” Bamidele said the committee will look into the allegations raised against Justice Muhammad to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s apex court.

“The sacred image of the judiciary, which is the epicentre of the temple of justice should be preserved by the Senate through appropriate legislative measures in order to safeguard this highly revered institution and prevent it from being ridiculed,” he said.

He said his resignation “will not prevent the committee from going ahead with its assignment in the quest to find a probable lasting solution to the matter.

“Even though Muhammad has stepped down as CJN, most of the issues raised by the Justices of the Supreme Court and other stakeholders within the judiciary still remain and need to be addressed urgently to prevent an eventual shut-down of the Judiciary.”