The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a report.
An online legal newspaper, Nigeria lawyer, reported that the CJN’s health status was made known at the national headquarters of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) on Tuesday by a justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Saulawa, in Abuja.
It was reported that Muhammad was confirmed positive in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is said to be receiving treatment.
The Director of Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Festus Akande, confirmed that Muhammad is currently in Dubai for treatment but he didn’t say what the illness was.
Akande said in a statement he issued Tuesday evening: “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.”
The CJN was absent at the inauguration of the 72 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on Monday.
He was represented by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in its update Monday night said total number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria is now about 73,374.
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