Presidency Speaks On Buhari Asking CJN Onnoghen To Resign

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has denied that his boss demanded the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Ojudu was reacting to reports that Buhari asked the embattled CJN to tender his resignation letter. 

“Buhari never at any time demanded CJ’s resignation.

“I challenge anyone who says so to cite the pronouncement, the press statement or quote any public official who made such announcement,” Nation quoted him as saying.

The government will on Monday January 14, 2019, arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led-Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja on charges of failures to declare his assets as required by law and for operating Bank Domiciliary Foreign Currency Accounts.

The charge against Justice Onnoghen was filed and served on him last Friday at his official residence in Abuja preparatory for his appearance at the tribunal.

The Federal Government, among others, is accusing Nigeria’s Head of the judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

He is also being accused of maintaining Domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.

Justice Onnoghen, whose appointment suffered delay by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues, may be the first CJN in Nigeria to be arraigned for criminal charges by the Federal Government.

Already, eminent lawyers have volunteered to put their services at the disposal of Justice Onnoghen.