Ariwoola Retires: How Will the New Supreme Court Rules Shape Nigeria’s Judiciary?

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Thursday after turning 70. In his farewell speech at the Supreme Court in Abuja, he shared that just before stepping down, he approved new Supreme Court Rules for 2024 to address the current needs of the justice system.

When he took over as CJN two years ago, Ariwoola noticed that the rules guiding the Supreme Court were outdated, having been in place for almost 40 years, since 1985.

These old rules were created long before the internet, electronic transactions, and modern communication became common. He questioned how such old rules could still be effective today.

New 2024 Rules Signed to Streamline Court Processes

Ariwoola formed a committee to review and update the rules. Earlier this month, he officially signed off on the new 2024 Supreme Court Rules, which are designed to make the court’s processes more modern and efficient.

Ariwoola stated that court procedures are essential to its functioning and need to change over time to meet the demands of the legal profession.

e thanked his fellow justices, including the incoming CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as well as Justices Inyang Okoro and Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, for their hard work on the new rules.

He also appreciated the help of Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN).

looking back on the Supreme Court’s workload, Ariwoola mentioned that in the 2023/2024 legal year (from September 2023 to July 2024), 1,124 cases were filed.

These included 435 civil cases, 269 civil motions, 219 criminal cases, and 102 criminal motions. Even though it wasn’t an election year, the court also dealt with 89 political appeals and 10 originating summons.

During this time, the Supreme Court delivered 248 judgments and rulings, covering civil, criminal, and political cases.

Ariwoola also noted that the heavy workload of the court has led to cooperation between the National Judicial Institute, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigerian Bar Association to reduce the pressure on the judiciary.

One key effort was the Justice Sector Reform Summit held in April, which he hopes will bring improvements to the justice system.