The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has resigned from his position on health grounds.
According to Channels TV, CJN Muhammad stepped down on Sunday night.
The next most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is set to deputise as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria until a substantive appointment is made, the report added.
The resignation by Mr Muhammad, 68, comes about 18 months ahead of his official retirement in December 2023, when he will clock 70.
ALSO READ: Drama as lawyer storms Supreme Court in herbalist-like regalia
Mr Muhammad’s abrupt exit comes at a time when his colleagues on the Supreme Court bench accused him of hampering the operations of the Supreme Court by failing to fund judges’ welfare as well as fuelling of generators among others.
A leaked memo by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court protesting Mr Muhammad’s handling of the operations of the court surfaced online last week.
Such letter leaking to the public is unprecedented in the history of Nigerian Supreme Court.
Mr Muhammad is leaving behind the crises enumerated in the letter by the Justices of the Supreme Court.
He is the second CJN in a row to abruptly exit office.
Join the Conversation