The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, has said President Muhammadu Buhari, as the appointor of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, has the power to remove or suspend any person occupying the office.
Muhammad stated this in defence of Buhari’s suspension of the erstwhile CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on January 25, 2019, and his immediate appointment by the President as the Acting CJN.
This is contained in a counter-affidavit which he filed to oppose a suit seeking to stop him from being appointed as substantive CJN.
The suit was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by Malcom Omirhobo Foundation, through its lawyer and promoter, Chief Malcom Omirhobo.
It prayed for, among others, a declaration that Justice Muhammad “is not a proper and fit person to be recommended by the 2nd defendant (the Federal Judicial Service Commission) to the 1st defendant (the NJC) and by the 1st defendant to the 5th defendant (Buhari) for appointment to the Office of the CJN.”
