SERAP urges NJC to take over CJN Onnoghen’s corruption case

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the National Judicial Commission, NJC to immediately take over from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the case of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen with a view to setting up a committee to investigate the allegations of breach of constitutional asset declaration requirements against him.

In the petition dated 26 January, 2019 and signed by SERAP senior legal adviser Bamisope Adeyanju, the organisation said: “The urgent intervention by the NJC would remove the allegations against Justice Onnoghen from the vicissitudes of political controversy, and a clear and present danger to the independence and authority of the judiciary.

“It would also help to reverse the country’s increasing movement toward anarchy or despotism.”

The organization also urged the NJC to “ask Justice Onnoghen to step aside from his role as CJN, pending the outcome of your investigation into the allegations against him.

“Also, if following your investigation, the allegations against Justice Onnoghen is established, the NJC should refer the case to appropriate anti-corruption bodies for prosecution.”