NJC finally confirms the voluntary resignation of Justice Walter Onnoghen

The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Monday confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the voluntary retirement of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

This was revealed by the NJC director of information, Soji Oye in a statement.

The statement said: “Council held an emergency meeting today to take formal note of the acceptance of the voluntary retirement of Hon Mr Justice Walter Onnoghen, GCON, as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“The president’s acceptance of the retirement is in line with council’s recommendation to the President on 3rd April, 2019.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement added that the council, at the end of its deliberations, thanked President Buhari for the acceptance which, which it said was in the best interest of Nigeria.

President Buhari had suspended Onnoghen on allegation of complexities surrounding his false and non-asset declarations while the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) convicted him of the offences. Subsequently, Justice Tanko Muhammad was appointed as Acting CJN to fill in the gap created.