By Yemi Akinsuyi
Former Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has reportedly died at 71 years in Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad, who was born in 1953 in Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State, would have turned 72 on December 31.
He was said to have died on Tuesday, while Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS) also announced his passing in a statement issued the same day.
Details surrounding his death remained sketchy as of press time, although he was said to have died after battling an undisclosed ailment.
His death comes nearly three and a half years after he stepped down as chief justice on June 27, 2022, citing health reasons. The resignation occurred 18 months before his expected retirement date of December 31, 2023, when he would have attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Muhammad, Nigeria’s 17th chief justice, assumed office in January 2019 following the controversial suspension of his predecessor, Walter Onnoghen. He spent three years and five months at the helm of the judiciary.
His tenure ended abruptly amid a deepening crisis at the Supreme Court, sparked by allegations from 14 of his colleagues that he was undermining the court’s operations through inadequate funding of judges’ welfare and essential services, including the provision of fuel for generators.
A memo reportedly authored by the justices, detailing their grievances, later leaked to the public — an unprecedented development in the history of the apex court. The issues raised in the letter were left unresolved at the time of his exit.
In a condolence message, NAMLAS described Muhammad’s death as a major loss to the country, the judiciary, and the Muslim community.
“His demise is a monumental loss to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large,” the association said, describing him as “a towering figure of integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice.”
The group added that the late jurist embodied fairness, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law, noting that his leadership as chief justice was marked by wisdom and restraint.
NAMLAS also highlighted his role as a mentor to young Muslim law students across the country, describing him as a father figure whose guidance, encouragement, and openness to the aspirations of young legal minds reflected his strong belief in mentorship and the continuity of justice.
