By Adesina Soyooye
Finally, the reason why the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Tanko has been out of public eye has been revealed.
Tanko has not been seen in public for sometime. Perhaps it won’t have been conspicuous but for his absence at the Swearing-in ceremony on Monday, of 72 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, at the Supreme Court.
The ceremony is usually presided over by the CJN, which was why Tanko’s absence raised eyebrows.
Standing-in for him was the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Lagos State- born Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.
The CJN is COVID-19 positive, and is presently in Dubai where he is receiving treatment. It is not known if Tanko contracted the disease in Dubai, otherwise, questions are being asked over why he is being treated in Dubai, instead of Nigeria.
Tanko’s ill health was revealed by a Supreme Court Justice, Ibrahim Saulawa, on Tuesday, at the unveiling of the
National Headquarters of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Asked why Tanko has been scarce, His Lordship responded:
“What do you wish him? As for me, I’ll keep it to myself.”
Tanko succeeded the former CJN, Walter Onnoghen, who was forced to retire in controversial circumstances. He is aged 66.
COVID-19, thought to have receded, made an about- turn, and is currently at an all-time high. This other day, it claimed the life of Billionaire businessman/ politician, Harry Akande.
On Sunday, Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, revealed that a number of his family members are down with COVID-19. And so is Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, on Monday, threatened to shut-down Abuja over the Virus.
