A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (retd.), has reportedly died at a hospital in Saudi Arabia aged 71.
The 71-year-old former chief justice of Nigeria reportedly passed about two weeks before his 72nd birthday on December 31.
Muhammad’s death was confirmed in a condolence statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS).
In the statement titled “NAMLAS Condolence Message on the Passing of Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, GCON, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria,” the association described his passing as a significant loss for the country.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.
“The Nigeria 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,” NAMLAS said.
Life and Times of The Legal Luminary
Born on November 14, 1953, in Doguwa, Kano State, Justice Tanko Muhammed received his early education in northern Nigeria before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned a degree in law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981, marking the formal beginning of a legal career that would span more than four decades.
Justice Muhammad began his professional journey in private legal practice before joining the judiciary of Kano State, where he steadily rose through the ranks. His judicial career was shaped by years of service as a Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, and later a Judge of the High Court of Kano State. Known for his firm grasp of procedural law and judicial discipline, he earned a reputation as a meticulous and conservative jurist, particularly in matters relating to constitutional interpretation and electoral disputes.
In 2006, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal, where he served in various divisions across the country and handled several high-profile political and commercial cases. His performance at the appellate level paved the way for his appointment to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012, where he became deeply involved in constitutional adjudication and election petition appeals, a core aspect of Nigeria’s judicial workload.
Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria in July 2019, initially in an acting capacity following the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, and was later confirmed as substantive As CJN, he oversaw judicial reforms aimed at improving court efficiency, reducing case backlogs, and strengthening judicial ethics, while also chairing the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In 2022, his tenure ended abruptly amid reports of health-related challenges and internal disagreements within the Supreme Court, leading to his resignation.
