Dons EzeEDICT ESTABLISHING NIGERIA EXPIRED TEN YEARS AGO – NORTHERN ELDERS
EDICT ESTABLISHING NIGERIA EXPIRED TEN YEARS AGO – NORTHERN ELDERS The Northern Elders Forum has declared that the Edict that birthed Nigeria expired 10 years ago.The chairman of the Forum, Ango Abdullahi, stated this, in an interview, on the sidelines of a “national dialogue on home grown parliamentary system” organised by a group of members of the House of Representativesunder the aegis of the Parliamentary System Support Group (PSSG).The event was to galvanize support for a bill sponsored by 83 members of the PSSG for the country to return to parliamentary system of government. The bill is awaiting second reading in the House of Representatives.The elder statesman noted:“Nigeria was born in 1914. It was a product of an Edict by the colonial officials that were largely military, in consultation with a few of our elders, about five or six of them. The Sultan of that period. The Shehu of Borno of that period. The Alaafin of Oyo of that period. Obong of Calabar of that period and other names that I have forgotten.“They sat down and looked at development that was taking place in colonized areas of Lagos, Southern Nigeria and the North. So by 1914, the colonial masters in Britain wanted to solidify their gains so that they could more easily exploit the colony. That was how they sat down and agreed that they would amalgamate the territories of Lagos, South and North. And the wife of the governor general at that time, was the one that gave us our name, Nigeria.“In the Edict, if you read it, it was clear that we were being encouraged from various backgrounds to come together and build a country called Nigeria. And our leaders at that time agreed that we will try. But we were advised in the details of the Edict that we should be monitoring progress over the years.. but the life of the edict was 100 years. Which meant that the Edict expired 2014, which is 100 years from its formation..“The question now is that we are now in 2024, this kind of dialogue reminds us that we have a history that started In 1914, and in the conclusion of that Edict, it says if we failed to be a country that we will call our own, and are proud of our country, by the expiration of that period, the various components that were in that amalgamation discussion could go their separate ways.”Abdullahi said the dialogue was one of the ways to chart a path forward for the country.Earlier, the elder statesman stated that the adoption of the presidential system of government was a mistake. “This dialogue should really be as objective as passionate if possible to look at some of the things that we did wrongly. One of the things we did wrongly was to bring in a system that did not fit us. If we can, we should work on something. It must not necessarily be a typical parliamentary system from our former colonial masters, it could be something else.”However, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, while speaking at the event, said the challenge with the Nigerian version of the presidential system of government is that it stifles accountability.“The major problem with the presidential system is not because we borrowed the system, but those who copied the system did not do a wonderful job. I got to know this in my undergraduate days. The problem is that those who copied and created the 1979 constitution, it is not the American system that we copied. In the US, impeachment of the executive is real, it can happen. Even judges can be impeached.“The provision is that it is the House that carries out impeachment, both for the executive…
EVERY NIGERIAN NOW OWES N620,000 – DEBT PER CAPITA REPORT
EVERY NIGERIAN NOW OWES N620,000 – DEBT PER CAPITA REPORT A dats review for the second quarter debt portfolio of the country released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown that the debt owed by every Nigerian on the average stood at N619,501. According to the data published by the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s public debt stood at N134.297 trillion as of the second quarter of 2024 (June, 2024). With the National Bureau of Statistics putting the country’s population at 216.7 million persons, it would mean that debt per capita stands at N619,501 based on the latest debt figure released by the DMO. Put into further context, each Nigerian owes nine times the newly approved minimum wage of N70,000, if debt per capita is put into context. Nigeria’s Debt Profile Grows By Record N46.9trillion Under Tinubu-Led Government The debt data further shows that domestic debt stands at N71.2trillion, whole external debt stands at N63 trillion. Of the amount owed, States owe N7.1 trillion externally while the federal government owes N55.8 trillion externally. States owe N4.2 trillion domestically while federal government owes N66.9 trillion. The new debt figure of the country put at N134 trillion is a N13 trillion increase from the N121 trillion recorded as of March 2024. The development is amid clamour for less reliance on loans by the Nigerian government.
AT 90, WHEN WILL YAKUBU GOWON DO A MEA CULPA? BY DONS EZE
AT 90, WHEN WILL YAKUBU GOWON DO A MEA CULPA?, BY DONS EZE God has blessed(?) General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s Military Head of State, from 1966 to 1975, to attain an enviable age of 90 years on this planet earth. We rejoice and congratulate him, and wish him many more years ahead. We however note that the attainment of such long life of 90 years should have been an excellent opportunity for one to have looked back at his journey in life, see what he did that was right, and where he had made some mistakes. He will then sincerely atone for those mistakes, or do a mea culpa, and ask God, and those he had injured one way or the other, for forgiveness, as a way of preparing himself for journey to the hereafter. But Yakubu Gowon, who presided over the affairs of Nigeria during her darkest period in history, when the country was plunged into a devastating civil war which claimed millions of lives, rather than become remorseful or sorry for the ignoble role he played, chose to tell lies, and to turn history upside down about what led to the civil war. In a recent newspaper interview to mark his 90th birthday, Gowon said that the Nigerian civil war was caused by the desire of the South East to secede. According to him, “I have always said that if there’s no secession, there wouldn’t be a break out and there wouldn’t be a question of civil war because it got to the stage that the situation was getting pretty clear that a part of the country, the South-east wanted to secede.” But Gowon did not tell us why the South East had wanted to secedeHe also did not say anything about the senseless killing of Easterners in different parts of the country, particularly in the North, which precipitated the desire to secede, and how he, as head of state, had turned blind eye on all these. Gowon said he did not go to Aburi, Ghana, in January 1967,:where solution to the crisis would have been found, with “my Secretary to the Government and officials like advisers”, while”Ojukwu had a different intention, So, he came with all his advisers, and prepared a memorandum”. This shows the naivety and unseriousnes of Yakubu Gowon in handling the affairs of the country. He thought he was going to Aburi on a picnic, jamboree, or sightseeing. That was why he travelled there without any of his advisers, nor prepared any memorandum. Gowon also revealed another of his naivety and unseriousnes. He claimed that it was from Ojukwu’s “paper that he was reading all the conditions, things he wanted done. We discussed them. We had two days there. “The agreement was that when we got back, I would be the one to make a statement on the areas we agreed on. “Unfortunately, I was down with a very serious fever; and honestly, I could not do anything. “As soon as Ojukwu got back, he made a statement on what was agreed. I had not seen the document he was using. He made a statement that we had agreed to part or something like that. That was how the confusion started. Of course, when I got better, we disagreed because that was not the agreement.” The Aburi meeting was the first time all the Nigerian military leaders were to meet since after July 29, 1966, when former Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi, was assassinated, followed by mass killing of Easterners, both military and civilians, in different parts of the country by Northern Nigeria soldiers, under the supervision of Yakubu Gowon as new Head of State. So, any serious leader, genuinely interested in finding solution to the…
COME BACK HOME, FG TELLS NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA
COME BACK HOME: FG TELLS NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians in the diaspora to return home to contribute their quota to build a better and prosperous Nigeria. The Chairman, Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the charge on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital while delivering 12th Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti ABUAD Convocation lecture entitled: Diaspora Engagements For National Development Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigerians abroad should bring back their experiences and help proffer solution to socio-ecomomic challenges hampering Nigeria’s growth and development. The NIDCOM chairman, who stressed the importance of diaspora engagement for national growth and development, urged the Diaspora Nigerians to embrace the abundant opportunities available in the country. She noted that Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora must join hands and coalesce efforts to develop Nigeria, as no foreigners will leave his country and help develop others. Dabiri-Erewa added the global of exposure and professional expertise of diaspora Nigerians who have excelled in various developmental sectors can be leveraged as catalyst for national growth and development. This , she said, the NIDCOM was working to achieve through the implementation of supporting framework for facilitating diaspora engagement in national growth and development. Speaking, ABUAD Founder, Afe Babalola commended Dabiri-Erewa for delivering what he called a well researched and detailed lecture towards achieving a sustainable development for the country with support from Nigerians the diaspora. Babalola explained that the country is blessed with both human and natural resources, urging the people especially the youths to shun the idea of leaving the country to greener pasture abroad. He maintained that the university in the last fifteen years of its creation has impacted on the nation’s education and health sectors, which has made local and international organizations to rate ABUAD as the best in the country and the world. ” Let me say that Africans are born to lead the world and I don’t know what is happening to us here. We have built a university that has been rated first in the world and a hospital adjusted the best in Africa in less than 15 years. My students are the best and next to make this country great,” he said.
YAKUBU GOWON, FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF STATE, TELLS OWN STORY
In this interview, a former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) highlights some of his experiences in office, what transpired before and after the civil war, and restates his belief in a united Nigeria. You are committed to Nigeria’s unity; how did you take it when the civil war broke out? I grew up with other Nigerians in a little village called Wusasa. It is Hausa community, but honestly, we knew one another. We either attended church together, or if you were a Muslim, you would go to mosque together, whether you were Hausa, Yoruba, or whatever. The unity of this country is certainly something for me. I have always said that if there’s no secession, there wouldn’t be a break out and there wouldn’t be a question of civil war because it got to the stage that the situation was getting pretty clear that a part of the country, the South-east wanted to secede. My duty and profession at that time demanded to make sure that we kept the country together. And that was how it happened. I had an experience of crisis in some African countries, especially the Congo. I served twice in the Congo and saw the brutality and suffering of the people, but little did I know that a few years later, one was going to face the same problem. We had to do whatever we could to keep the country together. I can assure you that it was not done out of joy but to make sure that at least we would be able to live together after resolving the problem. That was what we did. The soldiers were given what we called a list of dos and don’ts like all the Geneva Convention instructions in any international conflict. There were about 12 conditions, such as not permitted to fight against old people, women, children etc. It was only against those who took up arms against you; that’s all. But unfortunately, it happened. If given another opportunity, what would you have done differently? I don’t think I would have done anything differently. Every effort was made to make sure that the situation did not degenerate into a breakaway. I had a duty to make sure that the breakup of the country did not happen. We had to fight for two and a half years and made sure that there was no interference from outside. There was no question of allowing any nation or power to get involved in our crisis. If you remember, in the Congo you had United Nations forces made up of Nigerian troops and others from other parts of Africa to deal with the problem. At least we were able to deal with that problem and make sure we were able to live again as a people. So, I couldn’t have done it differently. There are still agitations in the South-east for a Republic of Biafra. Does it mean that the three Rs that were declared after the civil war failed to make any impact? What is your message to the people of that region? The Rs stand for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration, and of course, reconstruction. The instruction I gave to the fighting troops after the war was, ‘having fought your brothers and sisters, I want you to be soldiers of peace. Do whatever you can to help them get back to their homes and places; and give whatever assistance to them.’ Despite what happened, a lot of courageous Igbo people that lived in the North went back to Kaduna, Kano, Jos etc and got back their properties, which some of their friends had kept for them. They got them back almost immediately. The troops helped to transport them to various parts…
NIGERIA WAS NOT HUMILIATED AT UNHRC ELECTION – PRESIDENCY
NIGERIA WAS NOT HUMILIATED AT UNHRC ELECTION – PRESIDENCYThe presidency has denied claims that Nigeria failed to win votes at the United Nations Human Rights Council election held at the UN General Assembly last Wednesday (9 October).In a statement posted on X, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, stated that the African regional group nominated five countries namely, Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia for the five seats allotted to the continent. He said this move eliminated the need for an election.“There was no competition in the African regional group, as the continent fielded the same number of candidates as available seats. Contrary to information circulating, Nigeria was not snubbed in this election, as some reports have falsely claimed.“The country did not stand as a candidate for this cycle of elections, just like it did not stand for election in 2023 when a Nigerian medium sensationally reported that the country earned three votes,” he stated.Mr Onanuga said just like in 2023, Nigeria focused on offering support to countries who have been nominated by the African regional group. This he said, mirrors President Bola Tinubu’s leadership strategy in fostering unity on the African continent.“The regional bloc endorsed Benin and Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term. Given Nigeria’s continued leadership in fostering African unity, the nation focused on supporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.“This has been the hallmark of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership on the continent. This strategic approach aligns with Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic efforts to ensure Africa speaks with a united voice on the global stage,” he added.Explaining how Nigeria got the few votes, which triggered the speculation of Nigeria being snubbed in the election, he said, “Whatever vote was recorded for our country must have been cast in error in the secret balloting by some countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot.”The Human Rights Council electionThe United Nations General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for a three-year term from 1 January 2025 to December 2027.The Human Rights Council is a vital part of the United Nations system, comprising 47 member states that work together to promote and protect human rights globally. Its primary goal is to address human rights violations and make recommendations to improve human rights situations.Those elected to the council using a secret ballot system are Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.They will join Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Sudan and Vietnam.Reports suggesting that other countries think Nigeria does not deserve a seat on the Human Rights Council cast a shadow on President Tinubu’s administration.Members of the UNHRC are expected to uphold human rights, and members who are deemed to violate these rights lose votes and are not elected into the council.In extreme cases, the General Assembly may vote to suspend membership when gross violations are recorded.Nigeria has been a regular UN Human Rights Council member since 1967. However, the country experienced two significant interruptions between 1982-1987 and 1991-1999. These periods coincided with a time of military rule, widespread human rights violations, electoral violence, and repression.Although Nigeria has successfully maintained a democratic form of government for 25 years, the country’s human rights record has not improved significantly.
FOR AND AGAINST REGIONAL GOVT
FOR AND AGAINST REGIONAL GOVTEven before a memo to that effect is presented to either the Senate or the House of Representatives ad hoc committees on the review of the 1999 Constitution, the proposal for Nigeria to return to regional government has gained ground, overshadowing other items before the committees.The 10th National Assembly is currently in the processes of reviewing the 1999 Constitution.The Senate committee alone has received 37 fresh constitution alteration bills, in addition to the 16 inherited from the 9th Senate, bringing the number to 53.During a recent retreat by members of the Senate ad hoc committee in Kano, the issue of regionalism came up and not only generated a heated debate but also elicited reactions across the country.Adebayo Knocks Tinubu over fuel hikeWhy we took initiative for Gowon’s 90th birthday –Jerry GanaIt was learnt that the matter came up when a document sent to the Presidency and copied to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly became public knowledge.The memo titled: “Path and Processes Towards Restructuring Nigeria,” written by Akin Fapohunda, a retired director in the federal service is advocating for a return to regionalism as a way of fostering development in the country.Fapohunda, when contacted by our correspondent, confirmed that he had sent a document with that title to the Presidency and copied same to the leadership of the National Assembly.The feelings that the proposal may return to the National Assembly as an executive bill piqued the interest of stakeholders in the former regions based on their understanding and perceptions about how their areas would fare under such an arrangement.Prior to the nation’s independence in 1960, the nation was divided into three regions: North, West and East, and in1963, an additional region, Midwest was created, making the number four in the First Republic.The regions were, however, collapsed in 1966 by the regime of General Aguiyi Ironsi with the promulgation of Decree No. 34.That the issue of returning the country to the old structure is resurfacing 58 years after indicates there are many who prefer the regional system.Proponents of regionalism point at how the defunct regions harnessed the natural resources in their respective domains to build robust economies that served them well and even enabled them to contribute to the centre in a pre-oil-dependent economy.The current structure, those in support of regionalism have argued, does not bring out the potentials of the governance units, which basically fold their arms waiting for federation allocations derived from oil sales.Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Murtala Aliyu traced the agitation for regionalism to the colonial era when minority ethnic groups began to demand for recognition, resulting in the establishment of the Willink Commission to address their concerns.He said the Willink Commission highlighted this issue, and when the civil war started, 12 states were created based on the sentiments to address the demands of minorities.Fapohunda, whose memo generated the recent controversy, told Weekend Trust that he penned the document based on the significance of the demand on the need for sociopolitical fairness.He said: “On a political basis, Nigeria is not one. We have been deceiving ourselves. The only way to address such imbalances is for the country to return to regions.“If we say we have 600 tribes in Nigeria, let’s know these 600. Why are we sitting on them? Why are we saying only Wa Zo Bia? You cannot have justice when you sit on some other people. So, there is the need for us to regionalise so that there would be an expression of self-determination”, he said, adding that the current structure of Nigeria could not be sustained.Secretary of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum and the Ohanaeze Council of Elders in the 19 Northern States and the FCT, Professor…
WE MUST REFORM OR COLLAPSE – TINUBU ON NIGERIAN 64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
WE MUST REFORM OR COLLAPSE – TINUBU ON NIGERIAN 64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, stated that Nigeria must either reform for progress and prosperity or continue with business as usual and risk collapse. He, however, said his administration, upon taking over the leadership of the country 16 months ago, decided to reform the political economy and defence architecture, given the critical juncture the country found itself. He lamented that Nigeria found itself in a precarious situation because of the missed opportunities and mistakes of the past while calling on Nigerians not to allow the mistakes to follow the country into the future. This was part of the text of the national broadcast by the President, on the occasion of the 64th Independence anniversary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, delivered on Tuesday morning. Nigeria got its Independence from Britain, its erstwhile colonial master, on October 1, 1960. Tinubu, in the national broadcast, said the economy faced many headwinds and security highly impaired upon his assumption of office. “We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture,” he said. He added that if the country did not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, it would face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences. The President further said the economy was undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve the people better and more sustainably. “Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30bn in the last year. “We inherited a reserve of over $33bn 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7bn. “We have cleared the ways and means a debt of over N30tn. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent. “Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37bn. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills. We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms. “To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. “These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law,” he said. He announced that the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment would receive ministerial approval shortly, having been concluded by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act. “Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. “This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. “As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. “This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector. “The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy,” he said. Tinubu also lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria for its monetary policy management which, he said, had ensured stability and predictability in the foreign exchange market. The President said the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players was on course. He said the Federal Government was ready to assist the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in acquiring CNG…
POLICE INVITE NLC PRESIDENT, AJAERO, OVER ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING
POLICE INVITE NLC PRESIDENT, AJAERO, OVER ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING The Nigeria Police Force has invited the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero for questioning over an alleged link to terrorism financing and other allegations. This was contained in a letter issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence Response Team, Department of Force Intelligence. The letter, which was signed by Adamu S. Muazu, threatened that failure to honour the invitation would lead to arrest. According to the letter, the IRT is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrimes. Reacting to the letter, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his office X handle, called for action against President Bola Tinubu’s government. He wrote: “The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime is going completely fascist, and we must all together and stop him now! See a letter from @PoliceNG summoning @NLCHeadquarters President @JoeAjaero94024 practically accusing him of treason, terrorism financing and all sorts of heinous crimes. #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #RevolutionNow”.
ARIWOOLA BOWS OUT AS CJN AUGUST 22, KEKERE-EKUN SET TO REPLACE HIM
Barring any last-minute change, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of the Supreme Court is set to emerge as the next chief justice of Nigeria (CJN). If she assumes the office, Kekere-Ekun would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014, spending 28 months in office. The current occupant of the office, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, will formally bow out on Thursday, August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. As the most senior justice of the Supreme Court after Ariwoola, Justice Kekere-Ekun is favoured to clinch the position. The incoming CJN, who is 66 years old, may stay up to four years compared to the average of two years most of her predecessors held the position. After 11 years at the Supreme Court, Justice Kekere-Ekun will not only become the next CJN but also head the National Judicial Council (NJC), which oversees the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges across the country. Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958 and obtained her LL. B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July, 1981. From 1985 to 1989, she was in private practice and was later appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She was appointed a judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996. She served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 to May 1999. Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September, 2004, where she served in various Divisions and as the presiding justice of two Divisions of the appellate court (Makurdi and Aku) in 2011 and 2012, respectively. She was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the fifth female justice of the apex court and sworn in on Monday, July 8, 2013. She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and received several merit awards. Justice Kekere-Ekun is also a life Bencher, a member of the International Association of Women Judges and its president. LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that the judiciary has been in the eye of the storm, notably since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999. With Justice Kekere-Ekun assuming office in the next few weeks, the succession battle in the Supreme Court may be rancour-free for the first time in five years. Justice Walter Onnoghen, who served as CJN between 7th March, 2017 and 25th January 2019, left controversially after he was accused of failing to declare his assets. His successor, Justice Tanko Muhammad, who assumed office on 25th January, 2019, followed almost the same pattern after his fellow justices accused him of unfair treatment, particularly in the area of their welfare. He voluntarily resigned on the grounds of ill-health on 27th June, 2022. The CJN is the head of the government’s judicial arm. He presides over the country’s Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council. The outgoing CJN (Ariwoola) was appointed acting CJN on 27th June, 2022 upon Justice Tanko Muhammad’s resignation and was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 21st September, 2022. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest, and its decisions are final. The president nominates the CJN upon the recommendation by the NJC, and is subject to confirmation by the Senate. The CJN holds office at the pleasure of the Nigerian constitution and can only be removed from office due to death or on attainment of age 70, whichever comes first, or by impeachment by the Senate…