The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, stating that ordinary Nigerians have nothing to celebrate from his tenure as CJN.
Ariwoola has retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
HURIWA characterized Justice Ariwoola’s time in office as one of the most disappointing in the history of the nation’s judiciary, citing nepotism, alleged corruption, and a blatant disregard for the principles of fairness and justice as defining traits of his leadership.
According to HURIWA, Justice Ariwoola’s tenure has left the judiciary in disarray, severely damaging its credibility.
“One of the most troubling aspects of his time in office was the introduction of nepotism in the appointment of judges,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.
The association pointed to the appointment of Justice Ariwoola’s brother, Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola, as the head of the audit department at the National Judicial Council (NJC), a position that directly reports to the Chief Justice, who also serves as the Chairman of the NJC.
This situation, the group argued, creates a clear conflict of interest and raises serious concerns about the integrity of the NJC’s financial operations.
Additionally, the association condemned Justice Ariwoola’s role in securing a judicial appointment for his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jr., as a Judge of the Federal High Court.
“This move, which was met with widespread public outcry, exemplifies the deeply entrenched culture of nepotism that has taken root under Justice Ariwoola’s leadership,” it added.
“Justice Ariwoola’s actions have set a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar behaviour among other judicial leaders.
“For instance, the Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, following in Justice Ariwoola’s footsteps, appointed his daughter, Maryam Baba-Yusuf on the bench as a judge of the Abuja High Court and allegedly included the daughters of influential politicians, former governors, and ministers among the newly appointed judges.
“The implications of these actions are dire for the Nigerian judiciary. A federal court judge recently remarked that in Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to become a Federal High Court judge without connections to powerful individuals.
“This underscored the extent to which corruption has polluted the judicial appointment process,” HURIWA further alleged.
