Onnoghen: NJC Removes Former CJN As Council Chair

 Findings from Paragraph 20 of Part One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended stipulates that the membership of the NJC shall be;

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, who shall be the Chairman; the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who shall be the Deputy Chairman;

The President of the Court of Appeal; five retired Justices selected by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal; 

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court; the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria; five Chief Judges of States to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Chief Judges of the States and of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in rotation to serve for two years;

One Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years; one President of the Customary Court of Appeal to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Presidents of the Customary Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen in January over allegation of false and non-declaration of assets. He was subsequently convicted of the false and non-declaration of assets on Thursday, 18th April 2019 by the Conduct of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).