against him.In a statement on Wednesday, Soji Oye, spokesman of NJC, said the petition
was sent to the council by the Action People’s Party (APP).
Oye said the council found the earlier petitions against Muhammad and
Walter Onnoghen, suspended CJN, “worthy of further investigation.”
He said the council has constituted a five-member panel to probe the
allegations in the petitions against the duo.
“In continuation of its emergency meeting, the National Judicial Council
accepted the result of the preliminary assessment of the petitions against
Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I. T.
Muhammad, CFR that the petitions were worthy of further investigation and
should not be terminated under Rule 17 of the Judicial Discipline
Regulations of the Council,” he said in a statement.
“Consequently, the council constituted a five-member Investigation
Committee pursuant to Rule 20 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations
under the Chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Justice S. A. Akintan, CON, a retired
Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“A new petition against Hon. Mr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, by the
Action People’s Party (APP) was referred to the Hon. Mr. Justice for his
comments within an abridged 7-days.
“Council directed the investigation committee to work expeditiously,
determine all the petitions and responses and report to Council for a
final decision.”
Onnoghen is accused of false assets declaration.