Supreme Court Denies CJN Tanko Contracted COVID-19

The Supreme Court has dismissed reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammed, has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Naija News recalls that reports emerged on Tuesday that the CJN has contracted the COVID-19 virus and was receiving treatment in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

a member of the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, had made the claim at the unveiling of the national headquarters of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) in Abuja.

But in a statement, the Apex Court’s Director of Information, Dr Festus Akande, described the claim as a rumour.

Akande stated, “In furtherance to the press statement earlier issued, I wish to state categorically clear that there is no medical report so far made available by anybody indicating that the Hon. CJN has tested positive for Coronavirus.

“Those peddling the rumour should go a step further to confirm from their sources and equally obtain the copy of whatever laboratory test result they are relying on.

“As of this moment of issuing this statement, no one has so far shown me or any other person in Supreme Court a copy of the test result they are referring to in the report.”

Rumours of the CJN’s health status gathered storm on Monday after he failed to attend the swearing-in of 72 new Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The 66-year-old chief justice had not been seen in public for a long time and his absence at the swearing-in ceremony of the top lawyers again fulled speculations surrounding his health status.

The CJN swore in eight Supreme Court justices on November 6, but he has not been seen in public since then.

The next most senior judge, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour represented the CJN at the swearing-in on Monday.