President Buhari extends Tanko Muhammad’s tenure as CJN

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the appointment of Tanko Muhammad as the acting chief justice of Nigeria by another three months.

Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria

Buhari sent the recommendation to the National Judicial Council and the supervisory body approved the appointment on Thursday, a spokesperson for the NJC, Soji Oye, said in a statement confirmed by VAM News on Saturday.

Mr Muhammad was first appointed in January after the president controversially suspended Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen who was accused of false declaration of asset.

Mr Onnoghen was convicted on Thursday by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and was barred from holding public office for 10 years. He has denied all allegations against him, and has appealed the ruling.

The president’s suspension of Mr Onnoghen sparked uproar as the move was deemed unconstitutional.

Also, coming just weeks before the February presidential election, it raised suspicions, with the opposition accusing Mr Buhari of moving to appoint a stooge who would ensure judicial support after the polls would have been rigged.

Mr Onnoghen notified two weeks ago he was stepping down, but the Presidency has yet to announce whether his exit had been approved by the president.