President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a letter to the National Assembly, seeking the confirmation of Justice Tanko Mohammed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
Mohammed has been acting as the CJN since January when Justice Walter Onnoghen was suspended before he eventually retired.
The letter from the president was read at the plenary on Thursday by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan.
The request, the president stated in the letter, was in accordance with Section 231 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The president also referred to the section of the constitution which empowers the National Judicial Council, NJC, to have made such recommendations.
On Wednesday, the NJC rose from its emergency meeting recommending that the president should make Tanko Mohammed the CJN.
The decision was communicated by the council’s spokesman, Mr. Soji Oye.
The statement reads in part: “The National Judicial Council rose today (Wednesday) from an Emergency Meeting to recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the appointment of Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“The Meeting which was initially presided over by Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, considered and approved the recommendation of its Interview Committee that screened the two candidates presented by the Federal Judicial Service Commission to it for appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
