Justice Ariwoola answered all the questions asked by the Senators and he was asked by the President of the Senate to take a bow at 12.45 pm.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Senate has just concluded the screening of the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. He is, however, waiting for confirmation.
Justice Ariwoola answered all the questions asked by the Senators and he was asked by the President of the Senate to take a bow at 12.45 pm.
Recall that letter for confirmation of Justice Ariwoola as Chief Justice of Nigeria was received by the Senate on Tuesday, July 26, 2002, from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate could not consider the request as it adjourned for the annual long recess the following day, Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Meanwhile, it was a massive show of solidarity for one of their own on Wednesday when the bigwigs of the judicial arm of government accompanied Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to the National Assembly for the screening which followed two motions to that effect moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, on the floor of the Senate at 11:35 am.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan called for the screening exercise to be moved forward from where it was listed on the order paper.
Gobir moved that the Senate desolve into the Committee of the Whole to conduct the screening as well as suspend its relevant rules to admit the acting CJN Ariwoola and his entourage into the chambers.
The motions were approved by the Senate when they were put to voice vote by Lawan.
Thereafter, the acting CJN Ariwoola and all Justices of the Supreme Court, President of the Court of Appeal, President of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court (NIC) and Secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC) walked into the chambers and took their seats.
The delegation of Justice Ariwoola was led by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare.