A book detailing the judicial career of former Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola is set to be launched, with the participation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and a number of other legal professionals.
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Senior solicitors Dr Charles Mekwunye (SAN) and Ayo Olanrewaju, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), co-authored the book, “Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, CJN, GCON: Through the Cases.” Speaking in Lagos prior to the book’s May 8 launch in Abuja, Dr. Mekwunye said the book offers a thorough examination of Justice Ariwoola’s years of experience in Nigeria’s appellate courts, emphasising his important contributions to the growth of the country’s jurisprudence.
Mekwunye claims that by critically analysing Justice Ariwoola’s rulings, the book illuminates his judicial philosophy and influence, which in turn illuminates his character through his judicial actions. He underlined that despite his reputation for upholding the law, Justice Ariwoola never issued a dissenting opinion during his career and instead promoted legal ideas in his consensus rulings.
“What we found so unique and interesting about him is that he never delivered a dissenting judgement,” the Senior Advocate explained. He had actually taken a minority stance numerous times, but other majority voices ultimately deferred to him, and his minority position was ultimately adopted as the majority verdict, according to our investigation into why this occurred.
During his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Ariwoola was a brave jurist who consistently sought justice, according to Mekwunye. In his comparison of Ariwoola to renowned jurists like Lord Denning and Lord Viscount Simmonds, he pointed out that Justice Ariwoola is best characterised as a conservative judge, not a reformist like Lord Denning nor ultra-conservative like Lord Viscount Simmonds.
Mekwunye further emphasised that because the book covers a number of significant cases that Justice Ariwoola resolved, it provides a useful resource for judges and aspiring justices by illuminating his character and ethos. His lordship, Justice Ariwoola, is a bold, independent, and uncorruptible jurist—a perfect legal expert who has painstakingly and painstakingly given Nigeria invaluable service through his administrative prowess and judicial rulings.
“He is a wealth of knowledge due to his extensive experience in the study and practice of law, which spans more than 40 years,” Mekwunye said. He claims that important figures in Nigeria’s legal community, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney General, the Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and many others, will attend the book launch on Thursday, May 8, in Abuja.
