Chief justice of Nigeria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chief Justice of theSupreme Court of Nigeria |
|
|---|---|
 Olukayode Ariwoola since 27 June 2022 |
|
| Supreme Court of Nigeria | |
| Style | Mr. Chief Justice (informal) Your Honor (within court) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Federal judiciary National Judicial Council |
| Seat | Supreme Court Building, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, FCT |
| Appointer | The President
with Senate advice and consent
|
| Term length | Resignation Death Attainment of age 70 |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Formation | 1914 1 October 1963 Supreme Court of Nigeria |
| First holder | Sir Edwin Speed (colonial) Sir Adetokunbo Ademola (Indigenous) |
| Website | http://www.supremecourt.gov.ng/ |
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (often called the CJN) is a very important person in the Nigerian government. They are the leader of the judicial arm. This means they are in charge of the courts and how laws are understood.
The CJN leads the country's highest court, which is called the Supreme Court. They also lead the National Judicial Council. This council helps manage judges across Nigeria.
The current Chief Justice is Olukayode Ariwoola. He started this important role on June 27, 2022.
Contents
What Does the Chief Justice Do?
The Chief Justice of Nigeria has many big responsibilities. They make sure that justice is served fairly across the country. They lead all court activities.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in the land. Its decisions are final. This means that once the Supreme Court makes a ruling, no other court can change it. The Chief Justice plays a key role in these important decisions.
How is the Chief Justice Chosen?
Choosing a Chief Justice is a careful process. First, the President of Nigeria nominates a person. This nomination comes after a recommendation from the National Judicial Council.
After the President nominates someone, the Senate must agree. The Senate is a part of Nigeria's parliament. They have to confirm the person before they can become the Chief Justice.
How Long Does a Chief Justice Serve?
A Chief Justice holds their office for a specific time. They can serve until they resign. They can also serve until they reach the age of 70. If a Chief Justice passes away, their term also ends.
It is very difficult to remove a Chief Justice from office. The only other way is through a process called impeachment. This means the Senate must vote to remove them. A very large number of senators must agree for this to happen.
Past Chief Justices of Nigeria
Many important people have served as Chief Justice. Here is a list of those who have held this high office.
| Chief Justice | Term |
|---|---|
| Sir Edwin Speed | 1914–1918 |
| Sir Ralph Combe | 1918–1929 |
| Donald Kingdon | 1929–1946 |
| Sir John Verity | 1946–1954 |
| Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton | 1955–1958 |
| Sir Adetokunbo Ademola | 1958–1972 |
| Taslim Olawale Elias | 1972–1975 |
| Darnley Arthur Alexander | 1975–1979 |
| Atanda Fatai Williams | 1979–1983 |
| George Sodeinde Sowemimo | 1983–1985 |
| Ayo Gabriel Irikefe | 1985–1987 |
| Mohammed Bello | 1987–1995 |
| Mohammed Uwais | 1995–2006 |
| Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore | 2006–2007 |
| Idris Legbo Kutigi | 2007–2009 |
| A. I. Katsina-Alu | 2009–2011 |
| Dahiru Musdapher | 2011–2012 |
| Aloma Mariam Mukhtar | 2012–2014 |
| Mahmud Mohammed | 2014–2016 |
| Walter Onnoghen | 2017–2019 |
| Tanko Muhammad | 2019–2022 |
| Olukayode Ariwoola | 2022–present |
