Justice Tanko Muhammad, on the night of Sunday, June 26, resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, citing ill-health as the reason for his decision.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Ariwoola, who is the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, was sworn in at around 3:00pm, hours after the resignation of the former CJN, Tanko Muhammad.
Although a formal announcement has not been made. Until his resignation, reports had it that Justice Muhammad was seriously ill.
The major reasons for his resignation, as highlighted by the aggrieved justices A few days back, 14 justices of the Supreme Court had written him a letter to lament the decrepit state of affairs in the apex court.
1. Neglect of duties. In the leaked letter, the justices accused the CJN of refusing to address the issues despite drawing his attention to them.
2. Lack of residential accommodation and vehicles. The aggrieved judges complained of a lack of residential accommodation and vehicles at the court.
3. Deprive judges of travel assistance on foreign trips. The justices further accused the CJN of gallivanting with his spouse, children and personal staff, while not allowing them to travel with an assistant on foreign trips.
4. Lack of legal research assistants The justices decried the lack of legal research assistants, despite the magnitude of cases being adjudicated.
5. Epileptic electric supply On erratic electricity supply, the justices said they have been confined to work between the “hours of 8 a.m and 4 p.m daily, for lack of diesel,” after they were notified of the development by the Supreme Court’s Chief Registrar, Hajo Bello.
Meanwhile, Justice Tanko Muhammed did not attend the opening of the training for judges on alternative dispute resolution organised by the National Judicial Institute, amidst reports of resignation, Vanguard added. Although no Supreme Court Justice is present at the event.
Training of judges by the institute is usually declared open by the CJN or any of his representatives. However, the Administrator of the Institute, Justice Garba, has opened the session.
