• Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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NJC extends Muhammad’s tenure for another three months

National Judicial

The National Judicial Council on Saturday said it has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to extend acting appointment of Justice Tanko Muhammad by three (3) months.

In a statement signed by the Director of Information, Soji Oye,  the NJC said it took the decision at its 88th meeting held on Thursday.

The statement puts to rest speculations on the status of Tanko Muhammad, whose tenure as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria is expected to expire midnight of 25th April, 2019.

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Recall that Tanko Muhammad took office as acting CJN when he was sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 25th of January, 2019, following the suspension of former CJN, Walter Onnoghen on alleged corruption charges.

But the NJC in a statement on Saturday stated that its attention “has been drawn to an online newspaper and daily newspaper report stating that the Council would meet next week to deliberate on the extension of the Acting Appointment of Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.”

The Council stated that “contrary to the above, the Council actually met on Thursday 18th April, 2019 and at the 88th Meeting considered and approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for the extension of the Appointment of Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria for another three (3) months and Council has since forwarded its approval to the President.”

With the extension, it is expected that President Muhammadu Buhari will any moment send Justice Tanko Muhammad’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive CJN as provided for in Section 231(1) of the 1999 Constitution., as amended.

Section 231(5) which give the NJC powers to recommend the CJN for appointment, states that “Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment and the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.”