Nigeria’s CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammed Quits
Amid pressure over poor handling of his colleagues welfare and affairs of the Supreme Court by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammed, a new helmsman may soon take over at the nation’s apex Court.
Competent sources hinted that Tanko’s surprise decision to throw in the towel was sealed on Sunday night with his ill-health offered as the reason behind the move.
Though yet to be officially confirmed, insiders hinted the developing story may not be unconnected with what has been touted as in-house ‘rebellion’ by his brother justices on account of ill-health and some other sundry allegations.
It was also gathered reliable that arrangements may have already kick started to swear in the next most senior justice of the apex Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting CJN
Reports said with a formal announcement expected shortly, Justice Muhammed, whose health status has been seriously challenged in recent times, got worse after the letter written by 14 Supreme Court justices on the worrying state of affairs in the court went viral last week.
This is as reports by Arise Television claimed the resignation is against the backdrop of the judiciary being emersed in issues of maladministration and denying the apex Court justices their rights and suppressing the working conditions under Tanko’s watch as CJN.
Considered historic given Supreme Court justices’ conservatism, the letter of protest against Nigeria’s number one jurist took many by surprise.
In what a source had described as a ‘table shaking’ letter, the Justices said serving the country diligently and to the best of their ability, they deserves the “best compared to how they are being treated by the present CJN.”.
In demanding that the CJN act before it is too late, the justices also alleged that all efforts in the past to resolve their complaints yielded no result with the CJN reluctantly calling a Justices’ forum on March 23, 2022 after several persistent requests for such meeting to be held.
More to come later…
