Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, has passed away, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the country, including a tribute from Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
Justice Muhammad, who served as the nation’s 17th Chief Justice between 2019 and 2022, died after a brief illness, family sources confirmed on Tuesday. He was 72 years old.
Governor Bala Mohammed, in a condolence statement issued by his media office, described the late jurist as “a man of integrity, intellect, and deep faith” whose contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary would be remembered for generations.
“The Bauchi family and indeed the entire nation have lost a distinguished son whose wisdom and fairness guided the Supreme Court during a crucial period in our democracy,” the governor said, expressing sympathy to the deceased’s family and the judicial community.
Justice Tanko Muhammad hailed from Doguwa in Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He was appointed Chief Justice in July 2019 and led several significant rulings before retiring in June 2022 due to health concerns.
Tributes have continued to pour in from legal practitioners, public officials, and colleagues who praised his calm demeanor, commitment to justice, and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s legal system.
