Meet Justice Muhammad, who may replace Onnoghen as CJN

Except for a last minute change of mind by President Muhammadu Buhari, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen may be eased out of the system by February 10, 2017.

In his place, the National Judicial Commission (NJC) may have to send the name of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to the president for approval as the next CJN.

Muhammad is the next in line to Onnoghen in the hierarchy of Supreme Court justices

Onnoghen who was appointed as acting CJN on January 10, 2017 has until February 10, 2017 to remain in office, and by law, his tenure is not renewable, if he is not confirmed by the Senate.

Read Also: Don’t mandate Buhari to appoint me CJN, Onnoghen tells Nigerians

The president, who is on vacation, is due to resume duties on Monday, February 6, and it is still uncertain if he will forward Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for screening, or subsequent confirmation as substantive CJN.

If he fails to do this, Justice Muhammad may be on his way to becoming the new CJN.

Born December 31, 1953 at Doguwa – Giade, Giade LGA of Bauchi State, he attended Government Secondary School, Azare in 1973, and proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for his Bachelor of Law degree (1980).

He later got his LL.M (1984) and Ph.D in Law (1998) from the same University.

Hon. Justice Muhammad was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC) in 2006 and sworn in on January 7, 2007.

 

 

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now