TheCable

Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), has tested positive for COVID-19.

The CJN was represented by Bode Rhodes-Vivour, a supreme court justice, at the swearing-in ceremony of 72 senior advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on Monday.

TheCable had reported that the CJN was ill and out of the country for medical treatment.

Ibrahim Saulawa, justice of the supreme, on Tuesday, confirmed that the CJN tested positive for the virus and that he is currently in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, receiving treatment.

Saulawa said this at the unveiling of the national headquarters of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) which held in Abuja.

But Akande Festus, spokesman of the supreme court, dismissed the report that Muhammad has contracted coronavirus.

“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,” he said in a statement.

“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.

There has been in a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country.

Olu Irefin, a major-general, died as a result of complications from virus last week.

On Sunday, 201 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the country.

So far, 73,374 cases have been confirmed in 36 states and the FCT.