The National Judicial Council NJC gives suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the man who replaced him a few days ago as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Danladi Yakubu Umar seven days to respond to petitions pending against them.
Since the suspension of Onnoghen over his failure to declare his assets, it has been one petition to the other, and while some are asking for a proper interpretation of the constitution, as regarding the suspension of Onnoghen, others are going against the new acting CJN Tanko.
The petition against the new acting CJN Muhammad as NJC gives the three men seven days ultimatum, relates to his alleged misconduct in allowing himself to be sworn-in in manner that breach existing law, tradition and constitutional provisions.
According to reports, NJC’s Director, Information Soji Oye, said, in a statement that the council also elected to refer petition against CCT Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).
NJC gives the seven-day ultimatum to clear its name and that of the legal profession from all the drama and the allegation that the judiciary is being used. It gave the deadline in the absence of Onnoghen and Muhammad as the meeting was chaired by retired Court of Appeal President, Umaru Abdulahi.
The case against Umar we are told relates to his alleged abuse of judicial authority of a breach of constitutional provisions by the orders he made in the course of proceedings in the charge against the suspended CJN.
One of such orders is where the CCT rejected to be bound by orders given by High Courts, directing it to stay proceedings.
Another is the ex-parte order the CCT made, on which President Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have relied in suspending Onnoghen and inaugurated Muhammad in an acting capacity.
The statement under the NJC givers Onnoghen, Umar and Tanko seven-day ultimatum to respond to the allegation against them reads:
“The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat. The petitions are:
“Petition against Hon. Mr Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education;
“Petition against Hon. Mr Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;
“Petition against Hon. Mr Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and
“Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
“Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.
“In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and I. T. Muhammad, CFR to them for their responses.
“In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.
“Hon. Mr Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR 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.
“Council will reconvene on the 11th February 2019.”