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Please Note: This FactCheck was first published by FactWatch in July. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Thursday.
“Politicians should allow the judiciary to function. Law is not static and that is why you have seen that the National Assembly continues to amend the laws, and it is the law that the courts apply to the facts available.
“We shall continue to do justice if only Nigerians will allow us to perform and function without any pressure.”
On his new appointment, Ariwoola said, I shall not let Nigerians down.
“We shall make progress and advance the judiciary to benefit not only the common man but all men and women.”
These were words of the current Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola during his inauguration in October 2022.
Ariwoola took over from Ibrahim Tanko who resigned in 2022.
As CJN Ariwoola retires from office on August 22, 2024, the outrageous condemnation by Nigerians over appointments and elevation of his family members to justices of high court, appeals court and NJC auditor under his watch, is a dent on the already questionable image of the Nigerian Judiciary.
In December 2023, on X, a user known as Jaypee with an image of description, claimed that Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has turned the Nigerian Judiciary to his family business:
“He sworn in his nephew as the Justice of the Court of Appeal.
“He sworn in his son as a Judge of Federal High Court.
He has just made his younger brother the Chief Auditor of the National Judicial Council.
Fast-forward to 2024, a Nigerian on WhatsApp sent this same claim to FactWatch.
This time, he also claimed Ariwoola’s daughter in-law has been included on the list.
“The daughter-in-law, Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola, is missing here. She was recently sworn in as a judge of the FCT high court.“
FactWatch decided to fact check this.
Verification
To verify this claim, we look at the profiles of the persons mentioned above.
1
Lateef Adebayo Ganiyu
According to Premium Times, Justice Lateef is one of the nine Appeal Court Justices , sworn-in by CJN Ariwoola in September 2023.
The report by Premium Times stated that Lateef Ganiyu was, until his elevation to the Court of Appeal bench, a judge of the Oyo State High Court. He was born on 7 July 1966 in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area of the state.
The jurist was enrolled at Muslim Grammar School, Iseyin between 1980-1985 and obtained WASC O-LEVEL in 1986. He proceeded to Ansar-ud-deen High School at Saki, Oyo State between 1986 and 1987 where obtained WASC A-Level in 1987.
He earned a certificate from The Ibadan Polytechnic Continuing Education Centre, Ibadan, in 1988.
Mr Ganiyu bagged his law degree from the University of Lagos in 1992 and thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 1993. He was called to the Bar the following year. In his quest for further legal education, Mr Ganiyu proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ife, Osun State for his Master’s degree in law between 1996 and 1997.
He was appointed judge of the Oyo State High Court on 26 June 2014.
An article by the former Human Right Commission boss, Chidi Odinkalu,, published on TheCable, confirmed that the current CJN elevated his nephew, Lateef, to become a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
2
Olukayode Ariwoola Jnr
On July 14, the National Judicial Council recommended the appointment of 23 new judges for the Federal High Court.
Among those the legal body okayed to be elevated to the high court bench is the son of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, Jnr.
Defending this appointment, the alumni association, in a statement in October 2023, said contrary to claims in some quarters Ariwoola Jr.’s appointment as a judge was not on the influence of his father, who is the CJN.
3
Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola
A report by Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) in 2023, confirmed that Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola, a man who’s Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola’s brother, is the current head of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
As head of the NJC’s audit department, Adebayo serves as one of the council’s deputy directors.
The NJC has Adebayo Ariwoola listed as a deputy director in charge of the council’s audit, but a date of appointment is absent.
He also listed on the website of National Judicial Council as Deputy Director (Audit)
4
Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria
On July 9, 2024, the CJN’s daughter-in-law, Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria. was among the 12 judges who were sworn-in as judges of the FCT High Court by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
Verdict
The claim that a son, daughter in-law, nephew and brother were elevated/appointed High/Appeal Court Justices and Deputy Director (Auditor) in the National Judicial Council under the watch of current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, is TRUE.
