By Baron Ike
The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Tuesday queried the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen and his successor, Acting CJN Tanko Mohammed and gave them seven days within which to respond to the query.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, January 25 appointed Mohammed to act after suspending Onnoghen who was having issues with his assets declaration with the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
While Onnoghen was asked to respond to allegations on why he failed to declare all his assets, as stipulated by law, Mohammed was also asked to explain why he made himself for swearing in by Buhari without the recommendation of NJC, as stipulated by the Constitution.
If Onnoghn and Mohammed are found culpable and dismissed, the third most senior Supreme Court Judge, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour of Lagos State becomes the new CJN.
The NJC met on Tuesday to consider all matters pertaining to the suspension and appointment of Onnoghen and Mohammed, as well as other petitions brought before it against other senior attorneys.
For instance, the petition brought against the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, Danladi Umar, was referred to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
The Council reconvenes on February 11 to review the decisions taken today.
A statement from the NJC after the meeting signed by Soji Oye, Director of Information, and titled, “NJC ends emergency meeting, gives Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR seven (7) working days to respond to petitions,” reads:
“The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat. The petitions are: Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education; Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative; Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
“Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) 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. Muhammad, 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. Muhammad, 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.
“Council will reconvene on the 11th February, 2019.”