The Nigerian Judiciary and legal community have been plunged into mourning following the reported death of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
The news was confirmed to Sahara Reporters on Tuesday morning by a close source, who revealed the former CJN died while receiving treatment abroad.
“Ex-CJN Tanko Muhammad is dead. He passed away this morning at a Saudi Arabian Hospital,” the source said.
The Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), National Headquarters, issued a formal condolence statement, dated December 16, 2025, describing his passing as a huge blow.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,” the statement read. “His demise is a monumental loss to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large.”
NAMLAS praised the retired jurist, noting that throughout his judicial career, he: “Exemplified the highest ideals of the Bench—fairness, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.”
The association particularly noted his role as a mentor: “To NAMLAS, the late Chief Justice was more than a jurist; he was a fatherly pillar and a source of encouragement to Muslim law students across the country.”
Justice Muhammad served for decades in the Nigerian judiciary, eventually rising to the highest judicial office in the country. He had resigned as CJN in June 2022, citing ill health.