Senate To Probe Ex-CJN Muhammad Tanko,14 Others

In a move to ensure that all issues of corrupt allegations in the judiciary are cleared, lawmakers of the Nigerian Senate have invited the affected justices. the justices were invited to the Senate for probe by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters over allegations of corruption against him. According to sources, the committee was putting the finishing touches on necessary processes that would culminate in the invitation of Justice Muhammad, the petitioners and other critical stakeholders to a public hearing on the matter. This, one of the sources said was taking place before the lawmakers embarked on a Sallah recess.

The Justices who would be appearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters are 1. The former chief justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko 2. The acting CJN, Justice Ariwoola 3. Justice Musa Datijo Muhammad 4. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun 5. Justice Chima Centus Nweze 6. Justice Amina Augie. 7. Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji 8. Justice John Inyang Okoro 9. Justice Lawal Garba 10. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju 11. Justice Abdu Aboki 12. Justice I.M. Salnwa 13. Justice Adamu Janro 14. Justice Tijani Abubakar 15. Justice Emmanuel Agim.

It was also gathered that the decision of the Senate to probe the allegations against the CJN by the Supreme Court justices was a sequel to a motion by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on the matter.

Bamidele’s motion was titled: “Matter of urgent public importance on the state of affairs in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and demand by Justices of the court, pursuant to rules 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended).” The lawmaker had earlier drawn the attention of his colleagues to media reports on the state of affairs in the Supreme Court. The reports stated that justices of the Court had through a petition raised issues bordering on deplorable welfare conditions and a difficult working environment for the Justices.