Justice Tanko Muhammad, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), reportedly refused to vacate the Supreme Court quarters nine months after his resignation, denying his successor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, access to the apartment.
According to Judiciary sources, rather than vacate the quarters within six months of his resignation, Justice Tanko relocated to his private apartment in Kaduna, leaving his children at the CJN’s official residence in Abuja.
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is still living in his residence, which has become untidy and congested, but he was unable to evict Tanko’s children,” a source familiar with the situation said.
Mr. Tanko, the 16th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, resigned on June 22, 2022, citing health reasons. The resignation of the chairman of the National Judicial Council came less than a week after this publication exclusively reported how 14 Supreme Court justices accused him of corruption, gross misconduct, and failing to prioritize their welfare and address issues.
Following that, Justice Ariwoola, a Supreme Court Judge since November 22, 2011, was appointed as acting CJN on June 27 and sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 12 in the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.
However, Justice Ariwoola, the new CJN, has yet to move into the CJN quarters, as Justice Tanko failed to formally vacate the premises for unknown reasons.
The former CJN, who would have retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on December 31, 2023, was entitled to a rented apartment and a financial package six months after resigning.
According to sources in the judiciary, Justice Tanko asked his children to work with the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to get him the apartment.
“They took the children to more than five houses in Abuja for them to choose or choose for their father,” a source said.
“Since Tanko has not officially left the official residence, the Supreme Court continues to pay all utility bills, including daily fueling of diesel generators with taxpayer’s money,” the source added.
The FJSC was said to be burdened financially as a result of having to maintain both the official apartment and Mr. Ariwoola’s.
Again, the source revealed that efforts were underway to ensure Mr. Tanko’s children leave the apartment, as the apex court’s chief registrar, Sarki Bello, traveled to Kaduna on Wednesday to plead with the former CJN.
Mr. Tanko and the NJC’s spokesperson, Soji Oye, did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, shortly after his resignation, the Nigerian Senate insisted that, despite his resignation from the judiciary, it would investigate the allegations against Mr Tanko.
This was a follow-up to a motion made by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti).
“Even though Muhammad has stepped down as CJN, the majority of the issues raised by the Justices of the Supreme Court and other stakeholders within the judiciary remain and must be addressed urgently to avoid an eventual shutdown of the Judiciary,” the senator said
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