Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on Thursday, retired because the Chief Justice of Nigeria having clocked 70.
While delivering his valedictory speech on the Supreme Court advanced in Abuja, Ariwoola disclosed that to swimsuit the occasions and deal with present challenges, he signed off on the brand new Supreme Court Rules 2024 earlier this month.
He defined that upon assuming workplace because the CJN two years in the past, he was involved in regards to the guidelines regulating procedures within the apex courtroom, which had been in place for 39 years, predating the arrival of the web and digital transactions.
He famous that though apply instructions have been issued periodically through the years to satisfy the calls for of justice, the substantive guidelines had been nonetheless from 1985.
He mentioned, “At the time the Supreme Court Rules 1985 had been made, issues that are actually ubiquitous, like data know-how, digital transactions, and world telecommunication, had been both not in existence or of their formative levels. How, then, might such outdated guidelines be sufficient for as we speak’s challenges?
“It was for that reason that I empaneled a Rules Committee to undertake the arduous activity of reviewing the 39-year-old guidelines and the quite a few extant apply instructions comprehensively.
“I am glad to report that earlier this month, pursuant to the provisions of Section 236 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, I signed off on the New Supreme Court Rules 2024.”
Ariwoola expressed his perception that the foundations of process of any courtroom are essential for its operation and should be dynamic and modern to satisfy the evolving calls for of each the bar and the bench.
He thanked his fellow justices: the incoming CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Justice Inyang Okoro; and Justice Moronkeji Ogunwumiju for his or her dedication and dedication to the brand new guidelines.
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He additionally acknowledged Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) for his or her contribution.
Justice Ariwoola, talking on the Supreme Court’s workload, famous {that a} whole of 1,124 instances had been filed within the 2023/2024 authorized 12 months, which commenced in September 2023 and led to July 2024.
Of these, 435 had been civil instances, 269 had been civil motions, 219 had been legal instances, and 102 had been legal motions.
Additionally, though the 12 months was not an election 12 months, 89 political appeals had been filed on the apex courtroom, together with 10 originating summons.
He added, “During the same period, we delivered a total of 248 judgments and rulings, with 92 judgments in civil and originating summons cases, 81 judgments in criminal appeals, and 74 judgments in political appeals.”
Justice Ariwoola famous that the realisation of the necessity to cut back the undue burden on the Supreme Court led to the collaboration between the National Judicial Institute, the Ministry of Justice, and the Nigerian Bar Association to host the Justice Sector Reform Summit in April.
He expressed hope that the far-reaching selections made on the summit will drastically help the justice sector.