Buhari Suspends Onnoghen, swears in Justice Tanko Muhammad as Ag. CJN

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally suspended the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and replaced him with Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed.

The development was made public by the President’s Special Assistant on New Media, Mr. Bashir Ahmad on Friday evening.

Ahmad disclosed this through his twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.

According to Ahmad, the suspension was based on the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

There had been unconfirmed reports that Onnoghen had resigned from his position as CJN following his travails at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Following the news on social media, the embattled CJN Onnoghen had denied the claim.

Onnoghen said he was still in his office on Thursday to perform his official duties while he will also be swearing in members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals tomorrow (Saturday 26th January 2019).

Read also: Court upholds INEC rejection of Zamfara APC primary election

Onnoghen who is currently facing charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal  over non assets declaration, made this clarification in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on media, Awassam Bassey.

“There is absolutely no truth in the rumours making the round that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has resigned his office. It is fake news! The Hon CJN was in the office all through yesterday (Thursday) and sat in court.

“As part of his duties, the Hon CJN will be swearing in members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals tomorrow (Saturday 26th January 2019)”, he had stated.

Different courts, including the Appeal Court had ruled against the CCT continuing with the trial.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s prosecution team when the matter came up earlier this week at CCT requested a temporary order of the tribunal compelling Onnoghen to step down.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now