The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, has resigned from his position, reportedly on health grounds.
The CJN’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Isah Ahuraka, confirmed this on Monday.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is the next most senior after Justice Mary Odili retired on May 12 after attaining the retirement age of 70.
Justice Muhammad was born on December 31, 1953.
He hails from Doguwa, Giade Local Government of Bauchi State.
He attended primary school at Giade Primary School from 1961 to 1968.
He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Azare from the year 1969 to 1973.
He then proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero University College, Kano for his IJMB from 1975 to 1976. After successful completion of his course, he got admission to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1976 to 1980.
He attended Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981.
In furtherance of his educational career, Justice Muhammad went back to the prestigious ABU, Zaria for his Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) on a part-time basis, from 1982 to 1984.
In order to update himself in the field of Law, His Lordship went back to ABU, Zaria in 1987 to 1998 and obtained his Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Law, also on a part-time basis.
President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Muhammad as CJN in January 2019 following the suspension and later sack of former CJN Walter Onnoghen.
In a historic move, Justice Muhammad on February 12, included lawyers among those to be considered in the next round of appointments as Justices of the Supreme Court.
On June 21, Muhammad responded to a memo sent to him by 14 Justices of the Apex Curt complaining of poor welfare conditions and the deplorable state of the court.
Muhammad addressed the wide-ranging issues, including non-provision of diesel allowances for Justices, non-provision of equipped offices, accommodation, and the complete set of vehicles for new Justices appointed two years ago, among others.
He also addressed the issue of the non-holding of regular meetings with the justices.
The internet services, he said, have been restored to Justices’ residences and chambers, just as some allowances have been paid to them.
He allayed the fear of the general public assuring that “there’s no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.”
”Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard,” he said.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is expected to be sworn-in as the next Chief Justice.
Justice Ariwoola is the next most senior.
Justice Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1958 and appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011.
He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2011. He was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State.
Justice Ariwoola was first appointed a Judge of Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992 from private legal practice.
Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions.
Ariwoola will retire by 2028.
