Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has resigned.

His resignation may not be unconnected with speculations that he is ill at the moment

Recall that a letter was recently leaked where justices of the Supreme Court expressed their concerns over their budgetary allocations that have not been increased in the last four years.

Some of the issues raised by the justices in the letter include the failure to replace dilapidated vehicles, accommodation problems, poor healthcare services at the Supreme Court clinic, and poor electricity supply.

The justices also lamented the increase in electricity tariffs, no modified allowances to reflect the increase in diesel prices, and lack of internet services in their chambers.

The justices called Mr Tanko’s attention to an internal memo served by the Chief Registrar, which notified judges that electricity would be supplied to the court between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily, due to the lack of diesel.

Other issues covered the non-signing of amended Court Rules, an abrupt stoppage of foreign workshops and training per annum for justices and no provision of qualified legal assistants.

As such, the judges called Mr Tanko’s sense of responsibility into question, fearing a potential shutdown of the judiciary due to the raised concerns.

Muhammad has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 2005 and was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria in 2019.

He was formerly a Justice of the Nigerian Court of Appeal.