December 16, (THEWILL) — A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has died at the age of 71.
Born on the 31st of December 1953, THEWILL gathered that Muhammad passed away at a hospital in Saudi Arabia about two weeks before his 72nd birthday.
His death was confirmed in a condolence statement issued in Abuja by the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), which described his passing as a significant loss to the nation.
In the statement titled ‘NAMLAS Condolence Message on the Passing of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, GCON, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria’, the association expressed deep sorrow over the development.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.
“The Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students, NAMLAS, National Headquarters, Abuja, receives with profound sorrow the news of the passing of Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, GCON, former Chief Justice of Nigeria. His demise is a monumental loss to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large”, the statement read.
Born in Doguwa, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Justice Muhammad attended Giade Primary School from 1961 to 1968. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Azare, from 1969 to 1973 and then to Abdullahi Bayero University College, Kano, for his IJMB from 1975 to 1976.
He gained admission to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1976 to 1980 and attended Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981.
In furtherance of his educational career, he went back to the prestigious ABU, Zaria, for his Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) on a part-time basis, from 1982 to 1984. In order to update himself in the field of Law, Justice Muhammad went back to ABU, Zaria from 1987 to 1998 and obtained his Doctorate Degree (PHD) in Law, also on a part-time basis.
Appointed as Magistrate Grade II in 1982 to 1984 with the Bauchi State Judiciary, he rose to Senior Magistrate Grade II from 1984 to 1986.
The late CJN was appointed as the Provost, College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Bauchi, from 1986 to 1989. He was appointed Chief Magistrate/Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he served as a Kadi (Judge) of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State.
Justice Muhammad was elevated to the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal from 1993 to 2006 and was appointed as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2006.
The jurist was appointed acting CJN on January 25, 2019. After over six months in acting capacity, on the 24th of July, 2019, he was sworn in as the substantive 18th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice Muhammad, who served as Nigeria’s Chief Justice until his retirement, was widely regarded as a seasoned jurist whose career spanned decades in the judiciary, earning respect across legal and public institutions.
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