I Delivered Judgments Without Bias, My Conscience Is Clear – Former CJN Ariwoola

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has said that all his judgments during his time in office were given without bias, adding that he served the nation with a clear conscience.

Ariwoola, who served as Chief Justice from 2022 to 2024, stated this in an interview in Lagos.

Before his appointment as CJN, he had served on Election Petition Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu states in 1999, as well as on Election Appeal Courts in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola, and Ilorin at different times. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2005 and elevated to the Supreme Court in 2011.

Speaking about his judicial record, Ariwoola said his decisions were guided by the fear of God and strict adherence to the law.

“I handled cases strictly on merit throughout my judicial career,” he said. “I also served as Chairman of the Armed Robbery Tribunal for about three years, where I delivered judgments based on evidence and the law, without bias. Those who deserved conviction were sentenced, and those who were innocent were discharged. I did so with a clear conscience and no regrets.”

Commenting on recent allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria, the former CJN said insecurity in the country transcends religion or ethnicity.

“The Boko Haram issue is not religious. Kidnapping and terrorism have nothing to do with religion,” he said. “I attend church when I can. My eldest sister, from the same mother, was a Baptist, and I used to go to church with her. There’s no Christian hymn I cannot sing along to. Neither Christians nor Muslims should be against each other because our God is a God of peace.”