NJC gives Onnoghen, Muhammad 7 days to respond to petitions

By: Zina Patrick:

The National Judicial Council, NJC has given suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen and acting Chief Justice,  Tanko Muhammad, seven days to respond to the petitions written against them.

This is one of the decisions taken after the council’s emergency meeting in Abuja.

Onnoghen was asked to respond to allegations leveled against him, especially why he failed to declare all his assets, as stipulated by law.

The acting CJN, Mohammad, was also asked to explain why he allowed himself to be sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari without the recommendation of the Council, as stipulated by the Constitution.

If the two judges are punished with dismissal, the third most senior Supreme Court Judge, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour of Lagos State, will replace them.

The NJC said another petition written against the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar has been referred to the Federal Judicial Service Commission which is the body constitutionally empowered to deal with it.

They have all been served the petitions. The NJC is to reconvene on the 11th of February.