The National Judicial Council, NJC, has stated the reason it recommended compulsory retirement of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.
The recommendation and reason are contained in a message passed to President Muhammadu Buhari after the council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday over the report submitted by an investigative panel.
The panel was set up to prove the various allegations of misconduct against Onnoghen and the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed.
In the message sent to the president, the council absolved Mohammed of any wrongdoing by making himself available to be sworn in as the Acting CJN.
The council which handles cases of discipline pertaining to judicial officers reasoned that with the different allegations of misconducts against Onnoghen, he lacked the moral authority to remain as the CJN.
The NJC was headed in the interim by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Umaru Abdullahi.
To effect the retirement as recommended by the NJC, the president would need the approval of the Senate with two-thirds majority of its members in support of it.
The NJC announced that it had taken a decision on the case involving Onnoghen and Mohammed on Wednesday.
The decision, according to the Director of Information, NJC, Soji Oye, was however not made public.
According to Oye, it was considered proper to inform President Muhammadu Buhari first before making it public.
The statement by Oye reads: “The National Judicial Council reconvened today in an Emergency Meeting to consider the Report of the Five-Man Committee constituted to investigate the allegations of misconduct made against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR.
“Council decided that the allegations relating to assets declaration that were levelled against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON, were subjudice and therefore abstained from considering them.
“Council reached a decision on the petitions written by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others and conveyed its decision to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”
