Major Reasons That Forced Justice Muhammad’s Resignation

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, has resigned. Justice Tanko Muhammad resigned on Sunday night, June 26, citing ill-health as the reason for his decision. A few days back, 14 justices of the Supreme Court had written him a letter to lament the decrepit state of affairs in the apex court. The major reasons for his resignation as highlighted by the aggrieved justices are;

1. Neglect of duties

In the leaked letter, the Justices accused the CJN of refusing to address the issues despite drawing his attention to them.

2. Lack of residential accommodation and vehicles

The aggrieved judges complained of a lack of residential accommodation and vehicles at the court.

3. Deprive judges of travel assistance on foreign trips

The justices further accused the CJN of gallivanting with his spouse, children and personal staff, while not allowing them to travel with an assistant on foreign trips.

4. Lack of legal research assistants

The justices decried the lack of legal research assistants, despite the magnitude of cases being adjudicated.

5. Epileptic electric supply

On erratic electricity supply, the justices said they have been confined to work between the “hours of 8 a.m and 4 p.m daily, for lack of diesel,” after they were notified of the development by the Supreme Court’s Chief Registrar, Hajo Bello.

Meanwhile, Justice Tanko Muhammed did not attend the opening of the training for Judges on Alternative Dispute Resolution organized by the National Judicial Institute, amidst reports of resignation, Vanguard added. Although no Supreme Court Justice is present at the event. Training of Judges by the Institute is usually declared open by the CJN or any of his representatives. however, the Administrator of the Institute, Justice Garba has opened the session.

According to reports, this is over the conflicting court orders that recently emanated from their courts. Muhammad consequently threatened that three of the judges who issued the controversial order would be made scapegoats.

According to the 14 justices of the supreme court,the letter to the CJN alleged that he had abandoned his responsibilities as the leader of the court. The report stated that some of the issues raised in the letter included vehicles, accommodation, diesel supply, electricity tariff, internet services to justices’ residences, training for justices and epileptic power supply to the courts.