According to reports, Nigeria’s former Chief Justice, Ibrahim Mohammed Tanko is dead.
Justice Muhammad reportedly died on Tuesday morning in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, his passing triggering an outpouring of tributes across the legal community.
The death was confirmed in a condolence statement issued by the Nigerian Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), National Headquarters, Abuja, dated December 16, 2025, in which the association described his demise as a monumental national loss.
“Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return,” the statement read.
NAMLAS said the former CJN’s death represents a profound blow to the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large, describing him as a towering figure of integrity, humility, and unwavering devotion to justice.
Throughout his judicial career, the association noted, Justice Muhammad embodied the highest ideals of the Bench, marked by fairness, courage, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
“As Chief Justice of Nigeria, he discharged his duties with wisdom and restraint,” NAMLAS stated, adding that he leaves behind an enduring legacy of service that will continue to guide and inspire future generations of legal practitioners.

