By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammed is sais to have resigned after days of intense battle waged against him by his colleagues at the Supreme Court who accused him of sundry infractions in office ranging from corruption to high-handedness.
Although details of the development appears scanty as at the time of this report, a leading national television, Arise TV during its breakfast programme, ‘The Morning Show’, on Monday morning, attributing the information to sources too.
There has been rancour the apex court, after 14 Justices rose against the CJN over alleged mismanagement of funds and absence of probity, insisting on full blown investigation.
The Justices had in a recent letter to the CJN, which was leaked to the public, protested the non-payment of their legitimate entitlements for a prolonged period of time.
They accused the CJN who doubles as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC, of ignoring their repeated demand for improved welfare, despite the upward review of the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary.
Aside from allegation that accommodation was not provided for new Justices that were sworn in since 2020, the aggrieved jurists, accused the CJN of not allowing them to attend foreign trainings, adding that vehicles that were supplied to them were either refurbished or substandard.
According to them, though they were blocked from attending foreign trainings, the CJN, at their own expense, severally travelled out of the country with his spouse and children.
“In the past, Justices were nominated to attend two to three foreign workshops and trainings per annum with an accompanying person for reasons of age.
“Since Your Lordship’s assumption of office, Justices only attended two workshops in Dubai and Zanzibar. They were not accorded the privilege of travelling with accompanying persons as was the practice.
“Your Lordship totally ignored this demand and yet travelled with your spouse, children and personal staff.
“We DEMAND to know what has become of our training funds, have they been diverted, or is it a plain denial? Your Lordship may also remember that the National Assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary.
“We find it strange that in spite of the upward review of our budgetary allocation, the Court cannot cater for our legitimate entitlements. This is unacceptable!”, the aggrieved Justices stated.
No official statement has been issued by the Office of the CJN or Justice Mohammed himself.
