Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour presided over the commencement of the new legal year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and inauguration of the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria following the absence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad.

The absence of the CJN appears to be inevitable as this was noticed at about 10:05AM when the nineteen Justices of the apex Court filed into the Court room.

Besides, the reason for the absence of the CJN is yet to be known as at the time of filing this report.

Consequently, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Rhodes-Vivour is always expected to step in, by tradition and order of seniority in the event that the CJN is not around.

He is the Deputy Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), next to the CJN who is the Chairman.

ASKLEGALPALACE recalls that Dr. Festus Akande, Supreme Court Director of Press had earlier stated on 7th day of December, 2020 that the CJN will be presiding over the inauguration and deliver an address on the state of the nation’s judiciary as well as the Supreme Court’s plan for the new 2020/2021 legal year.