Chukwuemeka Njoku, Abuja
In continuation of its emergency meeting, the National Judicial Council has accepted the result of the preliminary assessment of the petitions against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad.Rising from the meeting on Wednesday, the NJC said the petitions were worthy of further investigation and should not be terminated 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 Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Meanwhile, a new petition against Justice Tanko Muhammad, by the Action People’s Party (APP) was referred to Muhammad for his comments within an abridged 7-days.A statement by Soji Oye, Director, Information, NJC disclosed that “Council directed the Investigation Committee to work expeditiously, determine all the petitions and responses and report to Council for a final decision”.
