In order to maintain public trust in the judiciary, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged it to uphold the rights of Nigerians.
When Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Monday following Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad’s resignation due to illness, he made the decision.
The Supreme Court Justices, according to the President, must uphold their oaths of office as the nation gets ready for the general election of 2023.
I wish to remind the Justices of the Supreme Court to always be true to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to uphold the Oath of Allegiance to which they all swore, as stated in the 7th Schedule to the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, and to do so without wavering (as amended).
“The Judiciary must not do anything to fail the ordinary people of Nigeria which may cause them lose trust in the Judiciary,” he stated. “Our Nation is nearing a vital general election in 2023.”
He said that he was hopeful that Justice Ibrahim Tanko will serve out his term after saying he accepted the former CJN’s departure with mixed emotions.
“Earlier today, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, the Honourable Justice Dr. I. Tanko Muhammad, CFR, resigned in a letter, citing health reasons. The resignation is effective right now!
“CJN Tanko was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006, swore in on January 8, 2007, and took on the role as interim Chief Justice of Nigeria on January 25, 2019. On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, he officially assumed the positions of Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council.
Typically, he was expected to leave the Supreme Court at the end of 2023. Unfortunately, as no man is infallible, Chief Justice Tanko’s leadership of the Nigerian judiciary at this time has been curtailed by bad health.
“Although I do it with mixed emotions, I am forced to accept his retirement. As much as one may hope for Nigeria’s Chief Justice Muhammed Tanko to be able to finish out his tenure in office, this assumes that he is able to carry out his duties without interference, hindrance, or any other sort of impairment.
President Buhari stressed that the three branches of government function harmoniously and in accordance with their respective mandates while praising Justice Tanko’s excellent job.
“In a constitutional democracy like ours, the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary are each given certain roles and responsibilities within the government. In order for the three organs to fulfill their separate constitutional tasks, they must function effectively and in unison.
Under the direction of Chief Justice of Nigeria Tanko Muhammad, the Nigerian judiciary wisely exercised its judicial powers. In his time, the Supreme Court, and therefore other Courts established by the Constitution, rendered a number of significant jurisprudential and policy judgements.
The issue of the careless and indiscriminate granting of ex-parte Orders that was taking on significant dimensions was dealt with forcefully by CJN Tanko. According to the President, Justice Tanko Muhammad would receive favorable treatment from history for his modest contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary, the consolidation of our democracy, and societal advancement.
The former Chief Justice was thus given the national honor of GCON by the President (Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger).
The Nigerian president promised further support while assuring the judiciary that the executive branch of government would not meddle.
“This is an appropriate opportunity for me to, as usual, reaffirm my commitment to upholding the independence of the judiciary in Nigeria and to reassure you that nothing will be done to compromise that independence by this administration. He pledged, “We will maintain the Constitution’s provisions on the Rule of Law and the separation of powers.
