CJN absent at new SANs’ inauguration

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, missed Monday’s new legal year ceremony of the Supreme Court where he was scheduled to preside over the inauguration of 72 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Reasons for his absence were not disclosed as the event began immediately with the administering of oaths to the new SANs presided by the next most Senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

The inauguration of new SANs always held during the ceremony marking the commencement of the new legal year of the Supreme Court has always been presided by the sitting CJN.

On December 7, 2020, the Director of Press of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande, disclosed in a statement that the CJN would preside over the event and give an address on the state of the nation’s judiciary as well as the Supreme Court’s plan for the new 2020/2021 legal year.