How Tanko Muhammad Was ‘Forced’ To Resign As CJN

Fresh facts have emerged as regards the sudden resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Monday.

Daily Trust reports that the resignation was a result of high-level intrigues, which were long-planned but executed Sunday night.

Contrary to the thinking that Muhammad resigned on his own accord, he was reportedly forced to do so by a high-level team of security and senior government officials.

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Following Muhammad’s resignation, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the second in the Supreme Court ranking, as the acting CJN.

How ex-CJN was forced to resign

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Indications that all was not well emerged Monday morning with the absence of the ex-CJN who was billed to speak at the opening programme of the training on alternative dispute resolution for judges at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

His aides said they were not in the know of any resignation until that morning.

However, some sources claimed he was directed to appear in the Villa where he was handed a letter to sign for his resignation.

A source at the NJC said the plan was hatched late last year but was put on hold until after the retirement of Justice Mary Odili who could have only served as the CJN for less than a year had Muhammad resigned before she left.

The idea was said to have been hinged on the ex-CJN’s deteriorating health condition.

A senior advocate of Nigeria, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the ex-CJN was forced to resign on two grounds – the letter collectively written against him by 14 Supreme Court justices, and “certain issues of financial impropriety.”

He said there was the veiled issue of ill-health, which has long been known by many judicial stakeholders but the ex-CJN was left to continue in the position till December 2023, when he was due to retire.

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“His condition became so obvious when his supporting staff were behind most of the correspondences, which they preface with ‘I have been directed’,” he said.

‘Removal finalised overnight’

Another source close to the ex-CJN, who craved anonymity, said Muhammad was fetched from his house Sunday night to an unknown destination.

“On arrival, he was presented with a letter of resignation and they demanded that he signed the letter. He was told it was from the president and he obliged them based on that. He was not allowed to make any consultation, including even with his family,” he said.

But another source at the Supreme Court said Muhammad had suffered serious health challenges making it difficult to perform his day-to-day functions, including sitting on cases and attending to files.

He said the situation was partly responsible for the crisis in the court, which led to the letter recently leaked by the 14 justices.

“During the past Ramadan, the president invited members of the Judiciary to the Villa for breaking of fast but he (Muhammad) scheduled a visit to Kaduna State at the same time, and when he was reminded, he said he was not aware though he was earlier told,” the source said.

Fourteen justices of the Supreme Court had in a recent letter on June 21, which Justice Muhammad was forced to react to, accused him of failing to properly administer the apex court.

“Your Lordship with all due respect, this is the peak of the degeneration of the court; it is the height of decadence, and clear evidence of the absence of probity and moral rectitude,” they wrote.

“Your Lordship, this act alone portends imminent danger to the survival of this court and the judiciary as an institution, which is gradually drifting to extinction.”

Reacting to the report, the spokesman for the former CJN, Ahuruaka Isah said the issues were not brought to his knowledge in his capacity as the spokesperson.

He, however, confirmed that the ex-CJN was customarily supposed to be at the NJI event on Monday before the unanticipated development.