Memory disorder forced ex-CJN Muhammad to resign

The news of the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, made major headlines yesterday.

It was reported that Justice Muhammad resigned on Sunday night, citing ill-health as the reason for his decision.

The next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was later swore in as the acting CJN by President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, it was learnt that Muhammad, who was appointed as the CJN in 2019, had been battling memory disorder, making him unable to fully discharge his responsibilities.

It was further gathered that the immediate past CJN could no longer cope with the rigours of the bench, especially legal research.

It was learnt that Justice Muhammad didn’t want some forces to take advantage of his challenge to hijack or influence Supreme Court decisions, which could cause crisis in the country.

The Star recalls that the Supreme Court Justices, in a letter, accused Muhammad of being indifferent to their plight.

They noted that the CJN totally ignored the demand and travelled abroad with his spouse, children and personal staff.

Other issues raised by the Supreme Court Justices include accommodation, healthcare, electricity tariff, vehicles, supply of diesel, internet services to justices’ residences, among others.

The CJN later reacted via a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah, saying the challenges were borne out of the high cost of electricity tariff and diesel, which he said are “national problem”.

However, a credible source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Justice Muhammad had been managing his health challenges since he took over from former CJN, Walter Onnoghen.

The source added: “The weight of office as the CJN made him to slip into suspected dementia. Each time he had meeting with his colleagues, he would forget resolutions and might not follow up with any action.

“Apart from the rigours of legal research, the health situation of the CJN could not allow him to attend to some administrative duties, including non-signing of amended Rules of Court for almost three years.

“He has no disdain for his colleagues, but his health challenge accounted for the lapses which led to a letter of protest by Supreme Court Justices.

“In spite of the fact that on March 23, the CJN constituted a Welfare Committee, all was not well in the Supreme Court till yesterday.

“The committee on March 24 submitted a list of demands by the Supreme Court Justices to the CJN, which could not be met.

“The issues raised by the justices are non-replacement of poor vehicles; accommodation problem; lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic; epileptic electricity supply to the Supreme Court; increase in electricity tariff; no increase in the of diesel; lack of internet services to residences and chambers.

“Others are internal problems including non-signing of amended Rules of Court for almost three years; sudden stoppage of two to three foreign workshops and trainings per annum for justices; no provision of qualified legal assistants

“In the midst of the protest by Justices of the Supreme Court, there was a medical advisory that he should slow down drastically.

“The situation was becoming complex and to avoid some forces taking advantage of the ill- health of the CJN to tamper with crucial judgments, he had to quit,” TheNation quoted the source as saying.

The Star

Segun Ojo