Supreme Court to get constitutionally prescribed 21 Justices – CJN, Ariwoola

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, announced on Monday that the Supreme Court is set to, for the first time in its history, reach the constitutionally-prescribed number of 21 justices very soon. This decision is in response to the recent wave of retirements that had reduced the number of Justices to a historic low of 10. Justice Ariwoola made this declaration during the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year of the Court, coinciding with the inauguration of 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the Supreme Court Complex.

He disclosed that the effort to attain the required 21 Justices had been initiated by his predecessor but had not succeeded before the end of their term. However, since assuming office on June 27, 2022, Justice Ariwoola has actively pursued this goal, emphasizing its urgent and critical necessity.

While addressing the fate of the judiciary, Justice Ariwoola stressed the need for statutory protection of the judiciary’s independence, not only at the federal level but also at the state level. He affirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and institutional independence, expressing confidence in the public’s trust in the judiciary.

The CJN urged judicial officers to prioritize integrity, hard work, and impartiality, cautioning against fear, favor, bias, or prejudice in their judgments. He provided statistics on the Supreme Court’s performance in the last year, highlighting the number of cases heard and judgments delivered.

In his advice to the newly inaugurated SANs, Justice Ariwoola emphasized the responsibility of assisting the Court in achieving justice, equity, and fairness. He urged them to maintain integrity, self-discipline, and high standards of advocacy, reminding them that the conferred privilege does not make them superhuman.

The CJN concluded by encouraging Nigerians to embrace alternative dispute resolution methods to reduce the burden on the courts. He called for a change in attitude to create a robust legal framework that aligns with the nation’s interests without importing foreign laws into the judicial process.