Ebun Francis || The Chief Justice of Nigeria and head of Nigeria’s supreme court, Justice Onnoghen has reacted to the widely publicised news that he is one of the high profile Nigerians being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) by stating that he is open to being investigated by the anti crime agency.
The news media on Wednesday reported that Onnoghen was one of the high profile Public officers being investigated by the EFCC, a report the anti crime agency has since denied.
Awassam Bassey, the media aide of the CJN, in a statement on Wednesday, said his principal was not aware of any investigation because he had not been invited for interrogation by the anti-graft agency.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports quoting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as probing the Hon the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, for yet-to-be disclosed reasons,” he said.
“The reports in the media mentioned the reason for the investigation as ‘intelligence’ which for now we take to be abstract. However, the Hon CJN wishes to use this medium to say that it is the first time he is being aware of any allegations or intelligence against him, neither has he been invited or called upon to offer any explanation on any impropriety.
“However, the Hon CJN wishes to assure the public that he has nothing to hide and is open to investigation.
“As a committed patriot who has spent all his adult life in the temple of justice, the Hon CJN is ready to pay the required price to make the nation a better place.
“The commitment of the Hon CJN to the efforts of the current administration to rid the country of corrupt practices is unwavering and he will stop at nothing to see a new dawn in Nigeria’s judiciary.”