NJC gives Onnonghe, Tanko ultimatum to respond to petitions, drags CCT Umar to FJSC

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the suspended chief justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnonghe, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad.

This was disclosed after an emergency meeting in Abuja.

Ibrahim Muhammad is to respond to a petition against him over an alleged breach of NJC rules.

The body also referred the petition written against Danladi Umar, the Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

The council, therefore, said it would reconvene on February 11, 2019 to discuss further actions against the judicial officers.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday last week suspended Justice Onnoghen as CJN following an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The suspension of Justice Onnoghen has triggered criticisms from various quarters, including the international community.

The suspended CJN is facing charges of false assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.