A lawyer to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, has provided more information on the decision of Onnoghen to step down from office.
Adegboyega Awomolo, who is the lead counsel to Onnoghen in his false assets declaration trial, disclosed this to Premium Times. Awomolo said Onnoghen’s decision is a retirement and not a resignation from office.
According to him, Onnoghen sent his notice of retirement to President Muhammadu Buhari in line with constitutional provisions. “What he has done is to send his notice of retirement to the President. And he has done so, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution”, the lawyer said.
“His position from day one has been that it is only the NJC that can discipline him. Now that the NJC has spoken, out of respect for the NJC and the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Nigerian Judiciary, he sent his letter of retirement, not resignation. He never resigned.
“All he has done is to send a letter to the president, saying thank you. I have served this country for about 32 years. I want to retire. That’s all he has done”.
Onnoghen’s retirement is coming 51 days after his trial began at the Code of Conduct tribunal on January 14 and 58 days after the petition which birthed the said trial was submitted.
Onnoghen, who was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 2005, had been recommended for the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria on October 6, 2016, by the NJC under its erstwhile leader, Mahmud Mohammed. He was, however, not confirmed by the Senate until March 7, 2017, due to the reluctance of President Muhammadu Buhari to submit his name to the Senate for confirmation.
He was eventually sworn-in on March 7, 2017, by then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, after the Senate confirmation.
Born on December 22, 1950, Onnoghen’s appointment as chief justice was billed to expire on December 22, 2020, after he attains the compulsory retirement age of 70 years.
Mr Onnoghen’s early exit commenced with his controversial suspension on January 25, less than 24 hours before he was billed to swear in a new set of judges to lead the various election petition tribunals in the country.
Buhari, who announced Mr Onnoghen’s suspension, cited an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to support the decision. Onnoghen’s trial at the CCT began on January 14, but he did not appear for the trial, till a bench warrant was issued against him by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar.
A number of allegations, contained in a six-count charge of false assets declaration, were brought against Mr Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
