Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (retd.), has passed away at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, a close source confirmed to SaharaReporters on Tuesday morning.

His death was also officially confirmed in a condolence statement by the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), National Headquarters, Abuja, which described his passing as a “monumental loss to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large.”

Justice Muhammad, who served as the nation’s top jurist before his retirement, was praised for his integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice. NAMLAS highlighted his mentorship of young Muslim law students, describing him as a “fatherly pillar” whose guidance inspired future generations of legal practitioners.

“As Chief Justice of Nigeria, he discharged his responsibilities with wisdom and restraint, leaving behind a legacy of service that will continue to guide generations of legal practitioners,” the association said. They also prayed for the repose of his soul, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him the highest abode in Jannatul Firdaus.

Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad’s career spanned decades, during which he became a defining figure in Nigeria’s judiciary, shaping key moments in the nation’s legal history.