President Buhari expresses mixed feelings on CJN’s resignation, swears in Ariwoola
President Muhammadu Buhari says he is constrained to accept the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammad Tanko on health grounds.
The president stated this while swearing in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria in the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
Buhari said: “Ordinarily, he (Tanko) was scheduled to retire from the Supreme Court on the last day of 2023.
“Unfortunately, as no man is infallible, ill-health has cut short Chief Justice Tanko’s leadership of the Nigerian Judiciary at this time.
“I am therefore constrained to accept his retirement, albeit with mixed feelings. Much as one may wish that the Chief Justice of Nigeria Muhammed Tanko is able to fully serve his term in office, it presupposes that he is able to perform the functions of the Office without let, hindrance or any form of disability.
“The instant resignation of Justice Tanko is however envisaged under Section 231(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which contains provisions relating to vacancy and the occupant of the Office of Chief Justice of Nigeria being unable to perform the functions of the Office for any reason.’’
According to the president, under a constitutional democracy like ours, government powers and responsibilities are allocated and shared among the three tiers; the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
He stated that the three organs must work harmoniously and optimally following their respective Constitutional mandates.
He noted that Nigeria’s Judiciary under the leadership of Tanko judiciously exercised the Judicial powers of the Federation.
The president added that Tanko’s era witnessed several landmarks, jurisprudential and policy decisions by the Supreme Court, and by extension other Courts established by the Constitution.
“CJN Tanko dealt firmly with the issue of reckless and indiscriminate grant of ex-parte Orders that was assuming serious dimensions.
“History will be kind to Justice Tanko Muhammed for his modest contributions to Nigeria’s Judiciary, the strengthening of our democracy and national development,’’ he said.
The president used the opportunity to call on the Judiciary not to do anything to fail the ordinary people of Nigeria which may make them lose confidence in the justice system in the country.
He also enjoined the Justices of the Supreme Court to always remain faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to remain steadfastly committed to the Oath of Allegiance which they all subscribed to, as contained in the 7th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).