Senate confirms Ariwoola as substantive CJN

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The confirmation followed his screening at the plenary on Wednesday.

Ariwoola, while responding to questions before his confirmation said the major challenge of the judiciary was inadequate funding of its operations.

He said the judiciary must be funded,saying that judges should not been seen as begging.

He urged the senate to always give expeditious approval to budgets of the judiciary to enable it discharge its duties.

On allegation that some judges wrote a petition against the immediate past CJN, Ariwoola said there was no petition  of such nature.

According to him, what leaked to the media was a letter of complaints by 14 justices on issues relating to the workings of the judiciary and welfare of judicial officers.

He, however, added that it was his utmost desire to introduce technology into the operations of the nation’s judicial system.

He also said machinery had been put in place to amend the rules and procedures of courts to ensure improved operations of their processes.

He noted there was need to also appoint more judges to facilitate speedy dispensation of cases, while also advocating that final judgements on some cases should be made to end at the appeal courts.

He called on the National Assembly should help in amending the laws on such matters.