Bauchi lawyers want Buhari to confirm Tanko as CJN

Authors:

bayo wahab

April 27, 2019 3:10 PM

The lawyers said the right thing to do is to initiate the process of appointing Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the Chief Justice of Nigeria for the good of the nation.

President Muhammadu Buhari appoints Justice Ibarahim Tanko Muhammad as Chief Justice of Nigeria after the controversial suspension of the former CJN,Walter Onnoghen. ( Guardian )

A group of lawyers under the aegis of ‘Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBOLAC) in Bauchi state has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The lawyers also asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other relevant authorities to confirm the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The legal practitioners made this call on Saturday, April 27, 2019, in a press conference in Bauchi state.

A group of Bauchi lawyers said justice Ibarahim Tanko Muhammad's background qualifies him for the position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. (Guardian) Pulse Nigeria

The chief convener of the group, Shipi Rabo said Tanko’s judicial and intellectual background qualify him for the position adding that the appropriate thing to do is to initiate the process of appointing him as the CJN for the good of Nigeria’s Judiciary.

He said, “Following the judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal removing the suspended CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as Chief Justice of Nigeria among far-reaching decisions.

“We call on His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission among other relevant authorities to go beyond merely extending the appointment of Justice Ibrahim Tanko as Acting CJN.

“This will be in accordance with the provisions of section 231 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that relates to the appointment of a substantive CJN.

“From his stint as acting CJN, coupled with his abundant integrity and rich Judicial cum intellectual background,”.

You’ll recall that President Muhammadu Buhari recently extended the appointment of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria by three months.

The tenure extension was confirmed by the spokesperson of the National Judicial Council (NJC), when he said President Buhari sent the recommendation to the NJC and the Council to approve the appointment on Thursday, April 18, 2019.