Onnoghen To Enjoy Full Benefits As Buhari Accepts Ex-CJN’s Resignation

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the “voluntary retirement” of Nigeria’s former Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen.

Announcing this in a statement on Sunday night was presidential aide, Malam Garba Shehu, who said the resignation was “effective from May 28, 2019.”

Onnoghen had been suspended by President Buhari after a petition that was written against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over allegations of false assets declaration.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), acting on the CCB’s petition, had subsequently recommended the former CJN’s suspension to the President.

Buhari suspended Onnoghen as Nigeria’s Chief Justice on 26 January and appointed Tanko Ibrahim as acting CJN ahead of the February 23 presidential election.

“With the directive of the CCT (Code of Conduct Tribunal) in a letter dated 23rd January, 2019, accordingly, I hereby suspend Hon Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria until the final determination of the case against him,” the President had said in a statement announcing the former CJN’s suspension.

Some civil society groups had criticized the suspension, with claims that Onnoghen was suspended because he could preside over election disputes in a manner that may not favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

– Buhari Appoints Five Justices Of The Supreme Court

Meanwhile, President Buhari has appointed five new Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Presidential spokesperson, Shehu said the appointment was contained in a letter the President wrote to the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad.

The letter reads: ‘‘Pursuant to the provisions of Section 230(2) A&B of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to request that you initiate in earnest the process of appointing additional five Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make the full complement of 21 Justices as provided by the aforementioned provisions of the Constitution.

‘‘This is in line with the Government’s Agenda of repositioning the Judiciary in general and Supreme Court in particular for greater efficiency, with a view to reducing the backlogs of appeals pending at the Supreme Court.

‘‘Please accept, your Lordship, the assurances of my highest regards.’’