President Buhari has extended the appointment of Tanko Mohammed as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by another three months. Mr, President transmitted the recommendation to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for consideration
and swiftly the NJC approved the appointment on Thursday, Soji Oye, the spokesperson of the NJC disclosed this on Saturday.
Mr Tanko Mohammed was first appointed in January after the controversial suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen who was accused of false assets declaration as required by law for public officer.
Subsequently, Mr, Onnoghen was convicted on Thursday by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and was barred from holding any public office in the next ten years. Onnoghen denied the entire allegation and has since appealed the judgement.
In a twist, coming just weeks before the February presidential election, it was greeted with suspicions, by the opposition as they accused Mr Buhari of strategically planting a stooge to ensuring judicial support after the polls would have been rigged.
Mr Onnoghen has since notified the presidency two weeks ago of his resolve of stepping down; however the Presidency is yet to announce whether his exit had been approved by the presidency.
In what appeared to be the first pointer to the Presidency’s decision, a statement credited to the presidential aide Garba Shehu on Thursday, after Mr Onnoghen’s conviction by the CCT, referred to Onnoghen as “former” CJN.
The statement released on Saturday by the NJC denied the media report which stated that the council would meet next week to consider the extension of Mr Muhammad’s term as the acting chief justice of Nigeria. It said the approval had already been given.
“Contrary to the above, the Council actually met on Thursday 18th April, 2019 at the 88th Meeting, considered and approved the request of Mr, President, GCFR, for the extension of the Appointment of Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria for another three (3) months and Council has since forwarded its approval to the President.
It was not somehow clear when the president sent the request.
(Premiumtimes)
