National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the appointment of Tanko Muhammad as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by three months.
NJC spokesman, Soji Oye, made the announcement in a statement on Saturday.
Muhammad was appointed acting CJN in January after Mr Buhari suspended the CJN at the time, Walter Onnoghen, who was accused of false declaration of asset.
Onnoghen was convicted on Thursday and barred from holding public office for 10 years. He has, however, appealed the judgement.
Mr Oye, in a statement on Saturday, said: “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to an online newspaper and daily newspaper report stating that the council would meet next week to deliberate on the extension of the Acting Appointment of Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“Contrary to the above, the Council actually met on Thursday 18th April, 2019 and at the 88th Meeting considered and approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for the extension of the Appointment of Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria for another three (3) months and Council has since forwarded its approval to the president.”
