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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on Monday, resigned his office, citing health grounds as the rationale behind his resignation.
Muhammad’s resignation is coming on the heels of an exclusive report by Pointblanknews.com titled “2023: Like Onnoghen, Tinubu’s Men Move To Axe CJN Tanko Muhammad” and published on June 22, 2022.
Pointblanknews.com had exclusively reported that loyalists of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had began hatching subterranean moves to remove the CJN in a bid to forestall any loopholes in the judiciary ahead of the 2023 presidential election especially if it lands in the courts.
The report had said that the strategists were relying on the playbook that saw to the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, in a bid to re-enact similar script.
It was also reported that move was also geared towards paving way for Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who is the next in line in the event of Justice Muhammad’s exit as the CJN.
Monday’s resignation therefore paves way for Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to be sworn in as the next CJN being the next in line after Justice Muhammad.
Pointblanknews.com recalls that in a leaked petition, 14 justices of the apex court accused the CJN of abandoning his responsibilities and diverting funds meant for the running of the Supreme Court.
Among the issues raised by the justices are accommodation, vehicles, electricity tariff, supply of diesel, internet services to justices’ residences, training for justices and epileptic electricity supply to the court.
They accused the CJN of receiving their demands without acting “after several persistent requests” to hold a meeting which was finally held on March 31, where a welfare committee was set up.