Nigeria’s CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad resigns on health grounds

Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has resigned on health grounds, Arise Television reports say.

In an unprecedented petition, last week, Justices of the apex court had jointly accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria of corruption, maladministration and incompetence.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria denied allegations raised against him by the Supreme Court Justices.

The denial was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Ahuraka Isah, titled, ‘Re: State Of Affairs In The Supreme Court And Demand By Justices Of The Supreme Court’.

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, had called on the National Judicial Council and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to probe the corruption allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, serving justices of the Supreme Court.

In a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday, HURIWA stated that the CJN should step down as Chairman of the NJC for the investigation to be conducted.

The group noted that the failure of the NJC and the CCT to investigate the allegations against Muhammad was tantamount to injustice considering the fact that the former CJN, Walter Onnoghen, was removed on a controversial note following allegations against him which were probed by both the NJC and the CCT.

Tanko took over affairs when, Walter Onnoghen was forced to resign as the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) .

He turned in his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, a day after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended that he be compulsorily retired for misconduct.

More details of the CJN’s resignation to follow …