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 or CJN is the head of the judicial arm of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country's Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council. The current chief justice is Olukayode Ariwoola who was appointed on 27 June 2022. He was appointed acting chief justice of the Federation upon the resignation of incumbent chief justice Tanko Muhammad, he was confirmed chief justice by the Nigerian Senate on 21 September 2022. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria and its decisions are final. The chief justice of Nigeria is nominated by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon recommendation by the National Judicial Council and is subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The CJN holds office at the pleasure of the Nigerian constitution and can only be removed from office by death or on attainment of age 70 whichever occurs first or by impeachment by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which requires a super majority of the members of the Nigerian Senate.
List of chief justices
The following is a complete list of chief justices.
| 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 |
List of previous chief justices
- Lagos (1863–1929)
- Benjamin Way (?–1866)
- John Carr (1866–?) (West African Settlements Supreme Court)
- George French (1867–1874)
- James Marshall (1874–1886)
- Sir John Salman Smith (1886–1895)
- Sir Thomas Crossley Rayner (1895–1902)
- Sir William Nicholl (1902–1908)
- Northern Nigeria
- Alastair Davidson (1900–1901)
- Henry Cowper Gollan (1901–1905)
- Sir M R Menendez (1905–1908)
- Sir Edwin Speed (1908–1913)
- Southern Nigeria
- Henry Green Kelly (1900–1902)
- Willoughby Osborne (1906–1913)
