TheCable

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has issued a fresh query to Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

At its meeting on Monday, the council asked Onnoghen to respond to a petition which the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) wrote against him.

He was given seven days to respond while the meeting was adjourned till Wednesday.

The NJC also set up a committee to probe the allegations levelled against Onnoghen and Ibrahim Muhammad, acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Olisa Agbakoba, s senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had asked the NJC to sanction Muhammad for allowing President Muhammadu Buhari swear him in without “following due process”.

“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,” Soji Oye, NJC spokesman, said in a statement.

“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 working days.

“Council reaffirmed its confidence in Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON and continues under his interim chairmanship.”

Onnoghen was suspended over alleged false declaration of assets.

The federal government had filed a four-count charge against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) but he failed to appear the tribunal, challenging its jurisdiction.