A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, is dead.
Born on December 31, 1953, he was aged 71.
The Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), National Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday announced the death of the former CJN who passed away at a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
“Ex-CJN Tanko Muhammad is dead. He passed away this morning at a Saudi Arabian Hospital,” the source said.
In the statement titled “NAMLAS Condolence Message on the Passing of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria,” the association described his death as a major loss to the country.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,” the statement read.
“The Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), National Headquarters, Abuja, receives with profound sorrow the news of the passing of Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria. His demise is a monumental loss to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large,” the statement said
Justice Muhammad, who served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria before his retirement, was described by the association as “a towering figure of integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice.”
NAMLAS, said throughout his judicial career, the former CJN “exemplified the highest ideals of the Bench—fairness, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.”
The statement said , “As Chief Justice of Nigeria, he discharged his responsibilities with wisdom and restraint, leaving behind a legacy of service that will continue to guide generations of legal practitioners.”
The late jurist hailed from Doguwa Giade Local Government Area in Bauchi State,
He attended Government Secondary School, Azare for his West Africa School Certificate in 1973. He gained admission to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained an Ll.B degree in Islamic law in 1980.
Justice Muhammad backed it up with an LL.M degree and a Ph.D in Law still from ABU, Zaria. in 1985 and 1998 respectively.
Tanko started his career in 1982, after he was called to the bar in 1981, the same year he graduated from the Nigerian Law School.
The FCT appointed him Chief Magistrate of the High Court in 1989, a position he held until 1991 when the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal appointed him as a Judge at. He served in that capacity for two years before he was joining o the bench of the Nigerian Court of Appeal as Justice in 1993.
He held the position for 13 years after which he again joined o the bench of the Nigerian Supreme Court in 2006.
He was sworn in on January 7 2007 On Thursday, July 11, 2019, Tanko was nominated by the lte President Muhammadu Buhari as substantive CJN. This was barely 24 hours afterNational Judicial Commission (NJC) recommended him to the president.
Justice Tanko resigned on Saturday, June 26, 2022 as theChief Justice of the Federatioon citing ill health as the reason for his decision.
