Judiciary Crisis: NJC Gives Onnoghen, Acting CJN Seven Days To Respond To Petitions

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has given Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed, seven days to respond to different petitions written against them.

The NJC gave the ultimatum on Tuesday during an emergency meeting which was presided over by a former president of the Appeal Court, Justice Umar Abdullahi.

In the petition filed by the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, Justice Tanko Mohammad is accused of conduct unbecoming of a judicial officer for offering himself before President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria having been aware of various court orders on the matter and the unconstitutionality of the President’s action.

The petition stated That Justice Tanko Mohammad had participated in NJC disciplinary meetings against judicial officers who presented themselves for judicial appointments by state governors without the NJC‘s  recommendation

In total, the NJC considered four petitions including one against the Chairman of the Code Of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, which was referred to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.

The NJC is to reconvene on February 11, 2019.