Justice Olukayode Ariwoola retired as Chief Justice of Nigeria on Thursday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
In his farewell address at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, he highlighted a significant milestone during his tenure; the introduction of the new Supreme Court Rules 2024, which he signed into effect earlier this month.
Ariwoola, who assumed the role of CJN two years ago, expressed concern over the outdated nature of the previous rules, which had governed the apex court’s procedures for 39 years.
These rules, dating back to 1985, predated the widespread use of the internet and electronic transactions.
He emphasized that while periodic practice directions were issued to address the demands of justice over the years, the substantive rules had remained unchanged since their inception.
Reflecting on the outdated rules, Ariwoola remarked, “At the time the Supreme Court Rules 1985 were made, things that are now ubiquitous, like information technology, electronic transactions, and global telecommunication, were either not in existence or in their formative stages. How, then, could such outdated rules be adequate for today’s challenges?”
To address these challenges, Ariwoola formed a Rules Committee tasked with overhauling the decades-old regulations and incorporating the various practice directions that had been issued.
The result was the comprehensive New Supreme Court Rules 2024, which he finalized in accordance with Section 236 of the Nigerian Constitution.
He underscored the importance of dynamic and up-to-date rules in the functioning of the judiciary, stating that they must evolve to meet the changing needs of both the legal profession and the courts.
He expressed his gratitude to his colleagues, including the incoming Chief Justice, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as well as Justices Inyang Okoro and Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, for their commitment to this reform.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Muiz Banire and the Nigerian Bar Association President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau.
Addressing the Supreme Court’s caseload, Ariwoola provided detailed statistics from the 2023/2024 legal year, which ran from September 2023 to July 2024.
During this period, a total of 1,124 cases were filed, comprising 435 civil cases, 269 civil motions, 219 criminal cases, and 102 criminal motions.
Notably, despite the year not being an election year, 89 political appeals and 10 originating summons were lodged with the court.
The outgoing CJN also reported that 248 judgments and rulings were delivered within the legal year, breaking down the figures into 92 judgments in civil and originating summons cases, 81 in criminal appeals, and 74 in political appeals.
Ariwoola concluded by emphasizing the importance of reducing the overwhelming burden on the Supreme Court.
He referenced the collaborative efforts between the National Judicial Institute, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigerian Bar Association, which culminated in the Justice Sector Reform Summit held in April.
He expressed optimism that the summit’s resolutions would significantly enhance the functioning of Nigeria’s justice sector.
