Jonathan Accepts Mohammed’s Nomination As CJN

President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) recommendation of Justice Mahmud Mohammed’s appointment as successor to retiring Chief Justice Aloma Mukhtar.

Media reports indicate yesterday that the President has written to the NJC on his acceptance.

Justice Mohammed is now left to cross the hurdle of the Senate’s confirmation to assume office.

The exercise before the Senate may come as a mere formality as past recommendations had always been accepted.

NJC last week recommended Justice  Mohammed to the President for the post.

The NJC’s recommendation followed the nomination of three most senior Justices of the Supreme Court by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

Justice Mukhtar will retire on November 20 when she will have clocked the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. She was born November 20th, 1944.

Justice Mohammed, who hails from Jalingo in Taraba State, was born on November 10, 1946.

He studied for his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1970, after which he attended the Nigerian Law School, in Lagos and was subsequently called to bar in 1971.

Justice Mohammed began his career in public service with the ministries of Justice of the defunct Northeastern state and Gongola State. He also worked with the judiciary of the defunct Gongola State.

In 1991, he was appointed the Acting Chief judge of Taraba State and later confirmed the substantive in the same year.