The Senate, on Wednesday, confirmed the nomination of the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola has been acting as CJN, following the resignation of the immediate former CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in July, forwarded the name of Ariwoola to the upper chamber of the National Assembly, asking it to screen and confirm the nominee for appointment as the CJN
The confirmation of Justice Ariwoola was sequel to his screening by the Committee of the Whole.
During the screening, Justice Ariwoola responded to various questions posed to him by the federal lawmakers.
Senators who asked Ariwoola questions included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
At about 12:45 during the exercise, Senators requested that the acting CJN be asked to take a bow and go “having sufficiently responded to questions posed to him.”
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, stated that if it is the will of the Senators that the acting CJN should take a bow, he would be bound by their decision even if the request is different from his personal opinion.
Senators unanimously approved that Ariwoola be allowed to take a bow and go when the request was put to a voice vote by Lawan at about 12:55pm.
The Senate thereafter reverted to plenary session where the lawmakers also unanimously approved that the acting CJN’s nomination for appointment as CJN be confirmed by the Senate.
