NJC Gives Onnoghen, Muhammad 7 Days To Respond To Petitions Against Them
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has ordered Justice Walter Onnoghen and Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to respond to petitions written against them in seven days.
The ultimatum was issued at the end of the NJC emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
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While the CJN is to respond to the non-declaration of assets levelled against him, Ibrahim Muhammad is to respond to a petition against him over an alleged breach of NJC rules.
You will recall that Onnoghen was last Friday, suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari and replaced with Justice Muhammed.
NJC will now reconvene on February 11, 2019 to discuss further actions against the duo.
The NJC statement issued by director of information, Soyi Oye, read in full, “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.
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“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.”
