Neverthless, pressure has continued to mount on the Federal Government to withdraw the charge against Onnoghen following the recent intervention of the NJC in the matter.
The NJC had at the end of its emergency meeting last week, handed Justice Onnoghen seven working days to respond to corruption allegations against him.
The legal body equally gave the same number of days to the acting CJN, Justice Muhammad, to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for submitting himself to be sworn-in by President Buhari as Onnoghen’s replacement.
Basically, the NJC, directed the suspended CJN to respond to a petition that was lodged against him by one Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education.
The petitioner accused Onnoghen of being in possession of funds and properties that are way beyond his legitimate earnings.
On the other hand, the Council, asked the Acting CJN, to respond to two separate petitions that were entered against him by a group under the aegis of Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, as well as by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.
Agbakoba had in his petition, urged the NJC to determine the propriety of Justice Muhammad, accepting to be sworn-in by the President in place of the suspended CJN, despite being aware of the implication of his conduct.
According to Agbakoba, by submitting himself to the President to be sworn-in as acting CJN, Justice Muhammad, lent himself to constitutional infraction by the executive arm of government.
He recalled that Justice Muhammad was a member of the panel that sanctioned Justice Obisike Orji of Abia State for allowing himself to be sworn-in as Abia State Chief Judge by the state’s governor, without recourse to the NJC.
Agbakoba accused the Acting CJN of engaging in an act of judicial misconduct.
The Council said it had also forwarded another petition against the CCT Chairman, Mr. Umar, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC.
A group under the platform of Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, had urged the NJC to sanction the CCT boss for engaging in “reckless abuse” of his judicial powers.
NJC noted that the FJSC was the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with issues the petitioner raised against the CCT Chairman
The Nigerian Bar Association had earlier raised a three-man team headed by one of its former Presidents, Chief Wole Olanipekun, to seek ways to persuade FG to drop charges against Onnoghen. (Vanguard)
