Onnoghen: NJC To Announce Final Decision Feb 13th
The National Judicial Council, NJC, will on Wednesday, take a final decision on the fate of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.
The NJC, at an emergency meeting today, Monday, set up a preliminary complaints assessment committee to review the responses given to it by Onnoghen, and the acting CJN, Ibrahim Muhammad, following an earlier petition by a group, Resource Centre For Civil Education, a lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, and another group, Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
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You will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended Onnoghen over allegations of false declaration of assets levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.
He had subsequently appointed Supreme court Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad in acting capacity.
NJC at the meeting on Monday, also asked Onnoghen to respond to a fresh query issued against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in seven days.
Recall that the EFCC allegedly traced a deposit of $30,000 by a senior advocate, Joe Agi, into the bank account of Onnoghen.
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A statement issued by the Director of Information, Soji Oye read, “The National Judicial Council reconvened today in an Emergency Meeting to consider the responses of Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR to the three petitions written against them.
“Members resolved to constitute into the Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee in accordance with Regulation 17 of the National Judicial Council Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2017 and report to Council on the 13th of February 2019.
“The Council will reconvene on Wednesday, 13th February, 2019.
“Council also received a new petition written by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and forwarded it to him for his response within seven (7) working days.
“Council reaffirmed its confidence in Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON and continues under his Interim Chairmanship.”
