AGE FALSIFICATION: Abuja Court Struck Out Suit Against CJN Tanko Muhammed
… Awards N10million Penalty Against the Plaintiff
By Funmilola Aworele – May 31, 2019
The Abuja based Federal High Court sitting has struck out a suit challenging the authenticity of the age documentation of the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed.
In a suit filed by a businessman, Tochi Michael, alleging that the acting CJN falsified his age by reducing it by three years, the plaintiff claimed that Mohammed was born on December 31, 1950, and has instead been using December 31, 1953, as his date of birth.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Danlami Senchi, said the accuser does not have a locus standi to file such a suit, neither has he shown how the allegations of falsification of age causes him any personal injury over and above the general public perceptions.
The Judged, Senchi also stated that the plaintiff did not provide any evidence to prove that Mohammed falsified his age.
Justice Senchi ordered that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court should begins disciplinary action against the plaintiff’s counsel, Melkizadeck Zaro, for unprofessional conduct.
The court has since awarded a cost of N10million against the plaintiff, which must be paid within the next three weeks.