President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the new chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Monday, June 27, 2022.
The appointment and swearing-in of Ariwoola followed the resignation of the former CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad. He resigned his position on Sunday, June 26, on deteriorating health grounds.
However, barely 24 hours after his swearing-in, the credentials filed in by the new CJN seem to have raised some eyebrows.
In what appears to be confusing to many, Ariwoola’s credential reads that he was born on August 22, 1958, in the Iseyin area of Oyo state and started his primary education at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in 1959, barely one year after his birth.
According to the new CJN’s curriculum vitae, he later spent eight years instead of the normal six years in school before graduating in 1967. In 1968, Ariwoola joined the Muslim Modern School in Oluwole and graduated in 1969 before heading to Ansar-Ud-Deen high school, Saki area of Oyo, for his secondary education.
His credential further stated that in 1980, Ariwoola obtained his law degree from the University of Ile Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and was later called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.
He later got enrolled as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
