Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Dies in Saudi Hospital

In a sad development for Nigeria’s judiciary, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has passed away at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. He reportedly died on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, after undergoing medical treatment abroad.

Justice Muhammad, who led the Nigerian judiciary from 2019 until his resignation in 2022, was widely respected for his commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence, and legal reforms.

His tenure as CJN was marked by efforts to strengthen judicial processes and promote fairness across Nigeria’s court system.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) confirmed the former CJN’s death, describing him as a “dedicated jurist whose contributions to Nigeria’s legal landscape will be remembered for generations.”

Tributes also poured in from political leaders, legal practitioners, and civil society groups. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed mourned the loss, highlighting Muhammad’s integrity and service to justice.

Legal associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), expressed profound grief, calling his passing a “monumental loss” to the legal profession and the nation as a whole.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced, but it is expected that the former CJN will be honored with national recognition for his decades of service to Nigeria’s judiciary.