Senate confirms Tanko Muhammad as Chief Justice of Nigeria

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Justice Tanko Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

This was after Muhammad was screened by the Senate, during plenary.

The screening lasted for about 90 minutes and he responded to questions on the administration of criminal justice, corruption and the poor funding of the judiciary.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last week Thursday forwarded to the Senate, a letter requesting for confirmation of Muhammad as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Buhari’s letter of request was a sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make Justice Tanko the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

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

Mr Onnoghen was later found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He was forced to retire from office and his retirement was accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate has gone into an executive session to confirm Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The confirmation was included in the Order Paper of the day. It was, thus, expected that Mr Tanko will be screened and confirmed during plenary – as is the custom.

This was, however, not the case as the lawmakers unanimously agreed to go into a closed-door session. This was after the Senate resolved into the committee of the whole to begin the screening and confirmation.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday requested the confirmation of Mr Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria. His request was a sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make Justice Tanko the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

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

Mr Onnoghen was later found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He was forced to retire from office and his retirement was accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari.