Nigeria’s most senior judge Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen has resigned, his lawyer said on Friday, less than two months after he was charged with non-declaration of assets that government critics said was politically motivated.

“Yes, he resigned yesterday,” Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, told AFP, without giving further details.

President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen just weeks before elections in February, prompting outrage and claims he was trying to manipulate the judiciary.

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.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/yes-onnoghen-resigned-yesterday-awomolo/

Why was he now forming James Bond before? Hypocrites will still come up with another twist that he was forced to resign. Whereas, if the reverse was the case they would have flooded here to abuse and curse Buhari, that they said it "that there was no case against Onnoghen." But now that the NJC said the man engaged in unethical conducts, they have turned their bile on the NJC.

Its no longer the NJC will restore him back to his position, the NJC will hammer Buhari, it is now, the NJC is corrupt, the NJC has been intimidated, etc. Bunch of jokers!

What keeps getting me confused is why the naysayers cant just take a pause, and consider it, that the allegations against the Ex CJN may actually be true.

No greater defense than clean hands.

agabusta:
Why was he now forming James Bond before? Hypocrites will still come up with another twist that he was forced to resign. Whereas, if the reverse was the case they would have flooded here to abuse and curse Buhari, that they said it there there was no case against Onnoghen. But now that the NJC said the man engaged in unethical conducts, they have turned their bile on the NJC.

Its no longer the NJC will restore him back to his position, the NJC will hammer Buhari, it is now, the NJC is corrupt, the NJC has been intimidated, etc. Bunch of jokers!

What keeps getting me confused is why the naysayers cant just take a pause, and consider it, that the allegations against the Ex CJN may actually be true.

they have started saying that d man will fight back,shame on them.

G

HappyPagan:
No greater defense than clean hands.

Apt!

It's a shame that some set of people defend corruption badly just because they hate APC. At the end of the day you all got served.