…Refers CCT Chairman Uman to FJSC
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The National Judicial Council at the end of its emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday gave suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Acting CGN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad seven working days within which to respond to petitions against them.
The Council also referred a petition against chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
The NJC considered four petitions filed at its Secretariat which include a petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education as well as a petition against the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;
It also considered another petition against Muhammad by Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and
A petition against the Chairman of the CCT. Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
After due consideration, the Council referred the petition against Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.
A statement by the Director of Information of the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye explained that in line with its procedure, the Council also forwarded the petitions against Justices Onnoghen and Muhammad to them for their responses.
The statement further said that in view of the gravity of the matters involved, the NJC abridged the usual response period from 14 to 7 working days for the two senior Justices to respond.
According to the Director of Information; “Justice Onnoghen and Justice Muhammad recused themselves from the meeting. Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.”
The NJC is expected to reconvene on February 11, 2019.
