13th February, 2019
The National Judicial Council, NJC on Wednesday inaugurated a five-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Onnoghen, and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The panel is to be headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice S.A Akintan, who like other members of the committee, is a member of the council.
The NJC had on Wednesday took delivery of a preliminary assessment report of petitions brought against Justices Walter Onnoghen, suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (NJC) and Tanko Muhammad, Acting CJN respectively.
Mr Soji Oye, Director, Information of the council disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the council on Feb. 11 constituted a Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee, to decide on the petitions against the two justices.
Oye said the council held that the petitions were worthy of further investigation under Rule 17 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations of the Council.
“Consequently, the council constituted a five-member Investigation Committee pursuant to Rule 20 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“A new petition against Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, by the Action People’s Party (APP) was referred to the Hon. Mr. Justice for his comments within an abridged 7-days.
“Council directed the Investigation Committee to work expeditiously, determine all the petitions and responses and report to Council for a final decision’’, Soji said.
NJC on Jan. 29 served Onnoghen and Muhammad a 7-day notice to respond to those petitions brought against them.
The initial petition against Onnoghen formed the six-count charge filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) bordering on allegations of non-assets declaration.
However, the council later received a petition from the EFCC accusing Onnoghen of financial fraud.
Similarly, Justice Muhammad attracted the grievance of Chief Olisa Agbako (SAN) who filed a petition against him for accepting the position of the Acting CJN without following due process.