NJC asks acting CJN to respond to fresh petition, raises panel to probe him, Onnoghen

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has given Ibrahim Muhammad, acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), seven days to respond a fresh petition against him.

In a statement on Wednesday, Soji Oye, spokesman of NJC, said the petition was sent to the council by the Action People’s Party (APP).

Oye said the council found the earlier petitions against Muhammad and Walter Onnoghen, suspended CJN, “worthy of further investigation.”

He said the council has constituted a five-member panel to probe the allegations in the petitions against the duo.

“In continuation of its emergency meeting, the National Judicial Council accepted the result of the preliminary assessment of the petitions against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR that the petitions were worthy of further investigation and should not be terminated under Rule 17 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations of the Council,” he said in a statement.

“Consequently, the council constituted a five-member Investigation Committee pursuant to Rule 20 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“A new petition against Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, by the Action People’s Party (APP) was referred to the Hon. Mr. Justice for his comments within an abridged 7-days.

“Council directed the investigation committee to work expeditiously, determine all the petitions and responses and report to Council for a final decision.”

Onnoghen is accused of false assets declaration.