The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has apparently decided to step down.
A Supreme Court official has verified the development, sources claim.
It is known that arrangements are ongoing to nominate Olukayode Ariwoola, the next-highest ranked justice of the supreme court, as interim chief justice of Nigeria
Reasons for his resignation are still murky, but justices of the Supreme Court in a letter leaked last week, highlighted their concerns over their budgetary allocations that have not been increased in the last four years.
Other concerns cited by justices include inadequate housing, insufficient healthcare facilities at the Supreme Court clinic, and a lack of electrical supply. – Justices’ letter
The justices also bemoaned the increase in power bills, no updated allowances to reflect the increase in diesel prices, and absence of internet connections in their chambers.
When Mr Tanko was informed by the justices of an internal communication from the Chief Registrar, he was informed that the court would be provided with electricity only between the hours of 8am and 4pm daily because of the paucity of diesel.
In addition, the Court Rules were not signed, overseas seminars and training for justices were abruptly halted, and there was no provision of qualified legal assistants.
As a result, the judges questioned Mr Tanko’s sense of duty, anticipating a possible shutdown of the judiciary as a result of the raised concerns.
Muhammad, on the other hand, responded to the claims by stating that he was unable to match the requirements of the judges.
Since 2005, Muhammad has served on Nigeria’s Supreme Court as a Justice, and in 2019, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria.
As a Justice of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, he served for many years.
