By Judicial Correspondent
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. The suspension was announced a few hours back on Friday at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the suspension followed the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) directing him to suspend Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial. In the meantime, Buhari immediately named Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed from Bauchi State as the acting CJN. He has already been sworn into office. The media were told that Mohammed is the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.
Justice Onnoghen is being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over allegation of false asset declaration. The swearing-in ceremony was done after the president signed the new executive order 007 on the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme. Mohammed was driven into the forecourt of the president’s office in a black Mercedes Benz C240 with number plate GWA 900FA at 4:30pm.
