BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Following the surprised resignation of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and the subsequent swearing-in of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as Acting CJN by President Muhammadu Buhari, controversy has reared its head over his date of birth and the year he started primary school.

While his name is yet to be forwarded to the Senate for the expected screening, fresh questions are being raised over his credentials specifically with regards to the date Justice Ariwoola started primary school.

Based on his curriculum vitae on the website of the Supreme Court, Justice Ariwoola, who was born in Iseyin, Oyo State on August 22, 1958, commenced school barely a year after in 1959.

Curiously, the date of birth has been edited, and replaced with “he was born over 60 years ago”.

The Supreme Court website presently states that Justice Ariwoola began his primary education less than a year later in 1959 at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole, in his hometown and spent eight years in school before graduating in 1967 from where he moved to Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969 and later graduated to Ansar-Ud-Deen high school, Saki area of Oyo, for his secondary education.

Ariwoola bagged his law degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1980, and was called to the Nigerian bar and got enrolled as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court.

REPORTEDLY ILL

It was gathered that before Justice Ariwoola was sworn-in as Acting CJN, some of his colleagues moved against his appointment on the grounds that he is allegedly battling some health issues.

The concerned Justices opined that the 63-year-old Justice’s alleged illness might affect his performance as the head of the Supreme Court as it was witnessed with retired Justice Tanko.

However, the next in hierarchy to Ariwoola is Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who is also believed to be also ill and returned from a surgery recently.

The Acting CJN, Justice Ariwoola is expected to serve in acting capacity pending his screening and approval by the Senate and confirmation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).