Ebun francis|
The National Judicial Council at the end its meeting on Tuesday queried the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Acting CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed.
The two judges, according to sources familiar with the proceedings at the meeting has seven days to respond to the queries.
While Onnoghen was asked to respond to allegations leveled against him, especially why he failed to declare all his assets, as stipulated by law, the acting CJN, Mohammed, was also asked to explain why he allowed himself to be sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari without the recommendation of the Council, as stipulated by the Constitution.
The NJC also referred a petition against the CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
According to a press release by the NJC’s Director (Information), Soji Oye, the council took the decisions after considering four petitions filed at its secretariat.
According to the statement, the petition against Onnoghen was by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education; while two petitions against Acting CJN Mohammed came from Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative; and also from Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.
It added that the petition against Umar was authored by the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
The statement added, “Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission, which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.
“In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON; and I. T. Mohammed, CFR, to them for their responses.
“In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.
“Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Mohammed, CFR, recused themselves from the meeting.
“Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal, as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.”
The Council will reconvene on February 11.
Onnoghen was suspended from office last Friday by President Muhammed Buhari on the orders of the code of conduct tribunal for failure to declare his assets as stipulated by law.
The suspended CJN who is facing is facing a six-count charge for failure to declare his assets was replaced by Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The NJC will reconvene on February, 11.