Chukwuemeka Njoku, Abuja
The
fate of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
and acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad is still hanging following the
inability of the National Judicial Council to decide on the petitions
against the two judicial officers. The NJC had
reconvened on Monday in an emergency meeting to consider the responses
of Justice Onnoghen and Justice Muhammad, to the three petitions written
against them.However, after deliberations,
members resolved to constitute into a Preliminary Complaints Assessment
Committee in accordance with Regulation 17 of the National Judicial
Council Judicial Discipline Regulations, 2017 and report to Council on
the 13th of February 2019.
Director of
Information, NJC, Soji Oye confirmed in a statement that the council
will reconvene on Wednesday, 13th February, 2019, for further
deliberation on the issue.
The NJC
spokesperson added that “Council also received a new petition written by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Hon. Mr.
Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and forwarded it to him for his response
within seven (7) working days.
Meanwhile, the NJC also reaffirmed its confidence in Justice Umaru Abdullahi’s interim headship of the apex judicial body.
