Chief Justice of Nigeria

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.[1] The current Chief Justice is Olukayode Ariwoola who was appointed on 27 June 2022.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Nigeria
Incumbent
Olukayode Ariwoola
since 27 June 2022
Supreme Court of Nigeria
StyleMr. Chief Justice
(informal)
Your Honor
(within court)
The Honorable
(formal)
StatusChief justice
Member ofFederal judiciary
National Judicial Council
SeatSupreme Court Building, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, FCT
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthResignation
Death
Attainment of age 70
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Nigeria
Formation1914 (1914)
1 October 1963 (1963-10-01) Supreme Court of Nigeria
First holderSir Edwin Speed (colonial)
Sir Adetokunbo Ademola (Indigenous)
Websitehttp://www.supremecourt.gov.ng/

List of chief justices

Source: Federal Judicial Service Commission, Nigeria

Chief JusticeTerm
Sir Edwin Speed1914–1918
Sir Ralph Combe1918–1929
Donald Kingdon1929–1946
Sir John Verity1946–1954
Sir Stafford Sutton1955–1958
Sir Adetokunbo Ademola1958–1972
Taslim Olawale Elias1972–1975
Darnley Arthur Alexander1975–1979
Atanda Fatai Williams1979–1983
George Sodeinde Sowemimo1983–1985
Ayo Gabriel Irikefe1985–1987
Mohammed Bello1987–1995
Muhammad Lawal Uwais1995–2006
Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore2006–2007
Idris Legbo Kutigi2007–2009
Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu2009–2011
Dahiru Musdapher2011–2012
Aloma Mariam Mukhtar[6][7]2012–2014
Mahmud Mohammed2014–2016
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen2017–2019
Ibrahim 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)

References
  1. "Constitution". The National Judicial Council. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  2. "Senate confirms Muhammad as Chief Justice of Nigeria". 17 July 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  3. "Wike: Finality of Supreme Court decision is sacrosanct". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. "Presidency Forwards Justice Walter Onnoghen's Name to Senate For Confirmation as CJN – PLAC Legist". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. "Judges retirement age and effective justice system". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  6. "ALOMA MUKHTAR: Making of Nigeria's Female CJN". P.M. News. Independent Communications Network Limited. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  7. "Jonathan swears in Nigeria's first female chief justice". The Punch. Ajibola Ogunsola. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.


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