The Chief Justice of Nigeria, justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR, has resigned from his role as the head of the Judicial part of the Government.
According to reports, the CJN’s cited ill-health as the reason for his decision. At the age of 68, Muhammad’s decision to retire comes 18 months ahead of his official retirement in December 2024, when he will clock 70.
Following his resignation, a new Chief Justice of Nigeria would be appointed. If nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and confirmed by the Senate, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court will take the role.
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Tanko Muhammad was appointed as the CJN on 22 March 2019. He took over after his predecessor, Walter Samuel Onnoghen was controversially suspended by President Buhari. Onnoghen never returned to office until he was convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges of breach of codes of conduct for public officers.
Justice Tanko Muhammad and President Muhammadu Buhari
However, the President would later recognize Mr Onnoghen’s voluntary resignation instead of the order of his removal from office by the CCT.
Tanko Muhammad was formerly a Justice of the Nigerian courts of appeal and on November 22, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
