Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko GCON[1] () (born 31 December 1953) is a Nigerian jurist, who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 2006 to 2022 and as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 2019 until his resignation in June 2022 citing ill-health as the reason for his decision.[2][3][4][5] He was formerly a Justice of the Nigerian Courts of Appeal.[6][7]
Muhammad Tanko | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of Nigeria | |
| In office 25 January 2019 – 27 June 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen |
| Succeeded by | Olukayode Ariwoola |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria | |
| In office 7 January 2007 – 27 June 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko 31 December 1953 Giade, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria) |
Early life
editTanko is a Fulani, born on 31 December 1953 at Doguwa - Giade, a local government area in Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria. He attended Government Secondary School, Azare where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate in 1973 before he later proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University where he received an LL.B. degree in Islamic law in 1980. He later obtained an LL.M. degree and a Ph.D. in law from the same university in 1985 and 1998 respectively.[8]
Legal career
editTanko began his career in 1982, after he was called to the bar in 1981, the same year he graduated from the Nigerian Law School. In 1989, he was appointed as Chief Magistrate of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, a position he held until 1991 when he became a Judge at the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal. He served in that capacity for two years before he was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal as Justice in 1993. He held this position for thirteen years before he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2006 but was sworn in on 7 January 2007.[9][10][11] On Thursday, 11 July 2019, Tanko was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as substantive CJN.[12] This was barely 24 hours after National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended him to the president.[13]
On Sunday, 26 June 2022, Tanko resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria citing ill health as the reason for his decision.[14][15][16][17]
Corruption
editIn exclusive reports by Peoples Gazette on 19 June 2022, Tanko was accused of diverting budgetary allocation of the Judiciary and denying Justices of the Supreme Court basic working tools and training. The leaked internal memo was signed by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court, an act described by pundits as unprecedented. Tanko was also accused of ferrying family members on International trips while neglecting Justices of the Supreme Court's annual retreat.[18][19][20]
A few days after the reports, Tanko resigned his position as the Chief Justice of Nigeria citing health issues. However, reports from news platforms in Nigeria debunk this stating that Tanko was forced out of service by the country's secret police over the allegations of corruption and misappropriation.[21]
Awards
editIn October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[22]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ Nda-Isaiah, Jonathan (27 June 2022). "BREAKING: President Buhari Swears In Justice Ariwoola As Acting CJN". Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Justice Tanko Muhammad Resigns As CJN". Channels Television. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria".
- ^ "The Nation Newspaper - Latest Nigeria news update". 7 October 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ Tobi Adeyeye. "CJN removes 2 Supreme Court justices off election petition tribunal". The Herald.
- ^ "Service chiefs, Soun, Osemawe, Oyegun, Omosexy, 292 others on national honours' list". tribune.com.ng. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad JSC, CON". supremecourt.gov.ng. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Bamgbose, Olatokunbo John (7 December 2013). Digest of Judgements of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Safari Books. ISBN 9789788431404.
- ^ "Justice Tanko Muhammad". kogireports.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Chief Justice Aloma's Son Used To Scuttle Anambra State Election Battle At The Supreme Court". Sahara Reporters. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Senate screens acting CJN Tanko on Wednesday". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Breaking: Buhari nominates Justice Tanko Muhammed as substantive CJN". Oak TV Newstrack. Oak TV. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "BREAKING: Justice Tanko Muhammad resigns As CJN". Punch Newspapers. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "UPDATED: Buhari to swear in new CJN after Tanko Muhammad's resignation - Premium Times Nigeria". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Amid rift, Muhammad bows out, Ariwoola becomes CJN". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Buhari swears in Ariwoola as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria". Vanguard News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "In explosive memo, Supreme Court justices accuse CJN Tanko of being irresponsible, morally decadent". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "Despite N120 billion budget, we have no data allowance, electricity to do our work, Supreme Court justices revolt against CJN Tanko". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "CJN Tanko takes wife, children abroad for workshops; but blocks us from overseas training: Supreme Court Justices". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "How Tanko Muhammad Was 'Forced' To Resign As CJN". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". 9 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.