Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, has been dragged to court for allegedly falsifying his age.
A businessman named ‘Tochi Michael’ filed a suit with No. FCT/HC/BW/CV/79/2019 before a before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The suit which was filed in April alleged that the acting CJN knownly falsified his date of birth from December 31, 1950, as shown in all his official records, to December 31, 1953 after his appointment a judicial officer.
Michael, in the suit, asked the court to determine whether such act did not constitute a criminal act of perjury, falsification and forgery.
He also called on the court to determine if by allegedly falsifying his date of birth as a judicial officer, Muhammad has not violated the constitution of Nigeria.
The businessmen also prayed the court to determine whether Justice Mohammad had not breached the Code of Conduct for judicial officers and consequently brought the image of the Nigerian judiciary to disrepute and odium.
However, Counsel to the CJN, Sam Ologunorisa, told the court at the proceedings on Tuesday that Michael and his counsel were absent, asking the court to dismiss the suit.
He said, “We on our part filed a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address. We urge the court to deem it fit that the originating summon has been argued.”
“We urge the court to dismiss the suit. The case is meant to scandalise the CJN.”
The presiding judge of the case, Danlami Senchi, ruled that another opportunity would be given for Michael and his counsel to appear before the court to prove the allegation.
The court then ordered hearing notices be served on the plaintiff and adjourned the case till Friday.
