The Senate on Wednesday at its committee of the Whole, confirmed Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
This followed a request by President Muhammadu Buhari last week urging the upper chamber of the National Assembly for his confirmation as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In the letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Buhari said; “I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“In accordance with Section 231 (1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which gives the president the power to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the Senate.”
Buhari, had in January 2019 swore in Justice Tanko in acting capacity having suspended the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen over alleged false declaration of his assets and failure to include some domiciliary accounts he had with the Standard Chartered Bank.
But Justice Onnoghen, who is now retired, alleged that his assets declaration form CCB1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was tampered with by agents of the Nigerian Government.
The former CJN specifically said that the documents tampered with are the CCB assets declaration forms of 2014 and 2015.
The National Judicial Council at its last meeting nominated Justice Tanko for confirmation as the CJN. The NJC’s recommendation was later contained in a statement by its Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, who said the NJC’s recommendation has been forwarded to the President in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
