--CHAPTER 1-

 

‘’I still can’t believe that you are getting married and having a baby,’’ Sanna, my best friend and bridesmaid excitedly says as she helps zip me into my sleek white wedding dress. I am three months pregnant and the dress is a little too tight around my rounding belly that I can hardly breathe but I will have to endure the tightness of the dress for a few hours. 

‘’Tia, you look absolutely beautiful,’’ she says resting her hand on my shoulder.

 

I stare at myself in the mirror and I get a little teary- eyed. Despite the dress being a little too tight, it perfectly accentuates every beautiful curve I have. ‘’I can’t believe I am getting married,’’ I sniff.

 

‘’I know right, today will be an amazing day but don’t cry, you will spoil your makeup,’’ she hands me a handful of tissue. I fold the tissue under my eyes and carefully wipe the tears off.

While taking photos with Sanna, I suddenly feel nervous, ‘’what if Zyair doesn’t show up?’’

‘’We all know how much Zyair adores you, I have never seen a man more in love with a woman than Zyair is with you. I am sure he is already at the courthouse, pacing back and forth wondering what time you will get there.’’

I smile, ‘’I am sure he is already there, Zyair is time conscious.’’

‘’You two make an amazing couple, I pray everything falls in place for you guys.’’

‘’Amen babe Amen. It feels like a dream that I will be Mrs. Chitangala in a few hours and in a’

‘’True,’’ I respond before I sit on the bed, ‘’please get me some water.’’

‘’Right away,’’ she smiles, walking out of the room.

Putting my hand on my little bump, I close my eyes and rub my stomach as my mind takes me back to the first time I met Zyair- a moment that will forever be itched in my memory. It was last year during the Christmas Holidays, I had gone out to get coffee at one of my favorite coffee shops in town. I had been carrying my coffee down to my seat from the counter when I bumped into him, spilling the coffee all over his white shirt.. 

Ariwoola, who is the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court was sworn-in at around 3:00pm, hours after the resignation of the former CJN, Tanko Muhammad.

Born on August 22, 1958, Justice Ariwoola, who hails from Iseyin, Oyo State, was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal before being elevated to the Supreme Court bench in 2011.

In March 2017, then acting President Yemi Osinbajo nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen as the CJN to replace Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

In January 2019, however, Onnoghen was suspended for alleged false asset declaration, paving the way for the Bauchi-born Justice Tanko Muhammad, who suddenly resigned on Monday morning for an undisclosed health issue.

Justice Ariwoola will serve in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate under President Buhari’s request.

The President also conferred on the outgoing CJN with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger.

In attendance were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; other Justices of the Supreme Court, Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, amongst others.