Tanko Muhammad

❧

Wikipedia

The Honourable
Muhammad Tanko
GCON
Chief Justice of Nigeria
In office
25 January 2019 – 27 June 2022
Preceded byWalter Onnoghen
Succeeded byOlukayode Ariwoola
Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
In office
7 January 2007 – 27 June 2022
Personal details
BornIbrahim Muhammad Tanko
(1953-12-31)31 December 1953
Giade, Northern Region, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (now Bauchi State, Nigeria)
Died16 December 2025(2025-12-16) (aged 71)
Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Muhammad Tanko GCON[1] (Listenⓘ) (31 December 1953 – 16 December 2025) was 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.[2][3][4] He was formerly a Justice of the Nigerian Courts of Appeal.[5]

Early life and education

Tanko was born on 31 December 1953 in Giade, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Tanko was a Muslim.[6] After graduating from Government Secondary School in Azare in 1973, he earned an LL.B. degree in Islamic law in 1980, LL.M. in 1985 and Ph.D. in law in 1998, all from Ahmadu Bello University.[7]

Career

Tanko began his career in 1982, after he was called to the bar in 1981, the same year he graduated from the Nigerian Law School.[8]

In 1989, he was appointed Chief Magistrate of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, a position he held until 1991 when he became a Judge at the Sharia Court of Appeal in Bauchi State. He served two years before he got appointed as Justice of the Nigerian courts of appeal in 1993. He held this position for 13 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] On Thursday 11 July 2019, Tanko was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as substantive CJN after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended him to the president.[11]

On 26 June 2022, Tanko resigned as the Chief Justice of Nigeria citing ill health as the reason for his decision.[12][13][14][15]

Controversies

Corruption

In a report 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.[16][17][18]

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.[19]

Death

On 16 December 2025, Tanko died in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. He was 71. His death was confirmed by the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS).[20][21][22]

President Bola Tinubu, through a statement delivered by his adviser on information and strategy Bayo Onanuga, described Tanko as "an eminent jurist whose life was devoted to the cause of justice and the strengthening of Nigeria's judiciary".[23][24] The Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun expressed her condolence to the President, family of Tanko and thr government of Bauchi, while noting that Tanko "would be remembered for his good works while on earth".[24] Acknowledging his tenure as a former Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Ahmed Saleh the secretary of NJC, in a statement, mourned the former CJN while pointing out how death has taken a festive celebration of Tanko's upcoming 72nd birthday.[24] The Supreme Court of Nigeria also noted his "dedication to the rule of law, judicial independence, and the fair administration of justice during his tenure".[6] Senator Shehu Umar Buba summarised Tanko's legacy as rooted in "hard work, honesty, and dedication".[25]

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), through the chairman Afam Osigwe, praised Tanko's service to the judiciary.[26] The Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed expressed his condolences to the family. He described him as "a venerable jurist whose life and career exemplified dedication to duty, integrity in service, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law".[27]

Awards

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Nda-Isaiah, Jonathan (27 June 2022). "BREAKING: President Buhari Swears In Justice Ariwoola As Acting CJN". Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Justice Tanko Muhammad Resigns As CJN". Channels Television. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Nation Newspaper". 7 October 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. 1 2 "Supreme Court, NJC mourn former CJN Tanko Muhammad". Businessday NG. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad JSC, CON". supremecourt.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Bolaji, Samuel (27 June 2022). "10 things to know about CJN Tanko Muhammad". The Punch. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Bamgbose, Olatokunbo John (7 December 2013). Digest of Judgements of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Safari Books. ISBN 9789788431404.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Senate screens acting CJN Tanko on Wednesday". The Guardian. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "BREAKING: Justice Tanko Muhammad resigns As CJN". The Punch. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "UPDATED: Buhari to swear in new CJN after Tanko Muhammad's resignation". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Amid rift, Muhammad bows out, Ariwoola becomes CJN". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "Buhari swears in Ariwoola as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria". Vanguard News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "In explosive memo, Supreme Court justices accuse CJN Tanko of being irresponsible, morally decadent". Peoples Gazette. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Despite N120 billion budget, we have no data allowance, electricity to do our work, Supreme Court justices revolt against CJN Tanko". Peoples Gazette. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "CJN Tanko takes wife, children abroad for workshops; but blocks us from overseas training: Supreme Court Justices". Peoples Gazette. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "How Tanko Muhammad Was 'Forced' To Resign As CJN". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  20. ↑ Olawuyi, Oyindamola (16 December 2025). "Ex-Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, Dies At 71". LEADERSHIP Newspapers. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Former CJN Tanko Muhammad is dead". Premium Times. 16 December 2025. ISSN 2360-7688. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "Former Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad Dies In Saudi Arabian Hospital". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  23. ↑ Ogundele, Bolaji (16 December 2025), Tinubu mourns former CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, retrieved 17 December 2025
  24. 1 2 3 "Tinubu, NJC, Northern Govs, Others Mourn as Ex-CJN, Muhammad, Passes at 71". This Day. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "Senator Buba mourns ex-CJN Tanko Muhammad, hails judicial legacy". The Nation Newspaper. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  26. ↑ Opejobi, Seun (16 December 2025). "NBA reacts to death of ex-CJN Tanko Muhammad". Daily Post. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  27. ↑ Igwe, Ignatius (16 December 2025). "Ex-CJN Tanko Muhammad Dies, Gov Mohammed Mourns". Channels Television. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  28. ↑ "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation". 9 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.