Less than two months after he was charged with non-declaration of assets that government critics said was politically motivated, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has resigned, his lawyer said on Friday,
His lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, told AFP, without giving further details: “Yes, he resigned yesterday.”
President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen just weeks before elections in February, prompting outrage and claims he was trying to manipulate the judiciary.
The President said in January that apart from the “grievous” allegations in a petition against Onnoghen, “the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.”
He said the suspended CJN’s excuse that the non-declaration was due to mistake and forgetfulness was not known to law.
As head of the Supreme Court, Onnoghen could have ruled on any disputes relating to the election, which saw Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), win a second term of office.
His beaten rival, Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democatic Party (PDP), has launched a legal challenge to the result, after calling the election a “sham”.
Onnoghen’s resignation came a day after the regulatory body for judges, the National Judicial Council (NJC), recommended he should be compulsorily retired from service.
Onnoghen was charged with failing to declare foreign currency bank accounts, in contravention of rules governing declaration of assets for public officials.
Buhari then suspended and replaced him, prompting accusations of executive over-reach and even an attempted “coup” against the judiciary. Lawyers protested on the streets.
A request to remove the chief justice normally has to be approved with a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Buhari expressed frustration that the Supreme Court had overturned a number of corruption convictions, including of some opposition politicians.
Further adding to claims the case was politically motivated was the initial complaint, which was made by a former spokesman for Buhari.
Onnoghen has since appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which rules on alleged breaches of ethics involving public officials.
The embattled judge denied the charges and this week closed his defence at the tribunal after calling one witness. Final submissions are due on April 25.
Presidency yet to confirm
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina says the presidency is yet to confirm if President Buhari is aware of the reported resignation of Justice Onnoghen.
He told Channels Television that he could not confirm if President Buhari is aware of the reported resignation.
“Is the President aware, I can’t say yet,” Adesina said.
Adesina joined the medium via Skype from Jordan where President Buhari and his team are at present.
The President departed Abuja on Thursday for Amman to honour an invitation by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.
He is to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa holding at the Dead Sea, Jordan.
Adesina noted that he, like many other Nigerians read of the development online, stressing that there have been no confirmation from the Nigerian Judicial Council, NJC or other relevant bodies.
He said he also read a report by Justice Onnoghen’s lawyer confirming that Onnoghen turned in his resignation, adding that he is yet to get a briefing on the matter from Mr President.
The President’s media aide noted that he met with his principal earlier today but Onnoghen’s resignation did not come up as a topic for discussion.
On whether the President got the recommendation from the NJC, Adesina said the papers had the report that the recommendations had been sent however, the Attorney General of the Federation will be in the best place to give a confirmation.
“It is a judicial matter, and the Attorney General is the legal officer of the country, he will be privy to it,” Adesina said.
Adesina reiterated that he has not been briefed by the president regarding any development from the Onnoghen’s reported resignation.
He said,”I met with the President earlier today but it was to discuss his presentation at the World Economic Forum here tomorrow, we didn’t talk about either the resignation or not of the CJN.”
The Guardian/Channels TV
