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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, John Terhemba Tsoho, is facing intensifying scrutiny following allegations that he failed to declare multiple bank accounts as required by law.
An investigative report by Premium Times alleged that Justice Tsoho omitted several accounts in the asset declaration he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on April 29, 2024.
According to documents reviewed by the newspaper, the declaration allegedly excluded three accounts held with United Bank for Africa and another with Access Bank. The accounts, both naira and domiciliary, were said to be in his name but were not listed in the official disclosure.
Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act mandates every public officer to declare “all properties, assets and liabilities immediately after taking office” and thereafter at prescribed intervals. The law further provides that any false statement in such declaration “shall be deemed to be a breach” of the Act.
It also states that any asset acquired after declaration and not reasonably attributable to legitimate income, gifts, or approved loans “shall be presumed to have been unlawfully acquired unless the contrary is proved.”
Legal experts note that failure to fully disclose assets, if established before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, could attract sanctions including removal from office, disqualification from holding public office for up to 10 years, and forfeiture of improperly declared assets. Decisions of the tribunal are appealable to the Court of Appeal.
Justice Tsoho did not respond to multiple calls and text messages seeking clarification on the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
Observers have drawn parallels with the case of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who was convicted and removed from office by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on April 18, 2019, for failing to declare certain bank accounts. The tribunal ordered the forfeiture of five accounts belonging to him. However, on November 4, 2024, the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction following a settlement with the federal government.
Separately, online platform Pointblanknews.com alleged that Justice Tsoho received a $5 million inducement to influence proceedings in a $1 billion debt recovery suit involving Nestoil Limited and its affiliates.
The controversy stems from a Mareva injunction granted on October 22, 2025, by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025. The order, obtained by First Trustees Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited on behalf of a consortium of creditor banks, restrained Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, and their promoters including Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi and his wife, Nnenna Obiejesi from tampering with assets pending determination of the substantive suit.
Pointblanknews.com alleged that shortly after the order was issued, moves were initiated to frustrate the proceedings through a petition accusing Justice Dipeolu of bias, with the intention of facilitating a reassignment of the case.
The bribery claims remain unproven, and no court has made findings to substantiate the allegations. Justice Tsoho has not publicly responded to the claims.
Born on June 24, 1959, in Mbaduku, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, Justice Tsoho began his career in the Benue State Judiciary in 1986, rising from Magistrate Grade II to Chief Magistrate Grade I before his appointment as a Judge of the Federal High Court in 1998.
He was appointed Acting Chief Judge on July 26, 2019, by then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad. The National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended him for substantive appointment on October 23, 2019. Former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recommendation on October 30, 2019, and the Senate confirmed him on November 5, 2019.
In recent years, Justice Tsoho has faced criticism over certain judicial decisions, including the reassignment of a high-profile receivership matter involving FBNQuest Merchant Bank/First Trustees and the Nestoil Group.
In June 2023, some anti-corruption advocates also questioned his refusal to grant an order detaining former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was then under investigation.
Allegations have also surfaced regarding discrepancies in his publicly stated year of birth, though no official findings have established wrongdoing.
The developments come amid increased internal scrutiny within the judiciary. The NJC, now chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is reportedly conducting a “discreet but extensive probe” into petitions alleging misconduct, including false asset declarations, against senior judicial officers.
Sources described the petitions as “damning and disturbing.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun has pledged sweeping reforms aimed at restoring transparency, integrity, and public confidence in the judiciary. Since assuming office, the NJC has sanctioned and compulsorily retired several judges over misconduct.
Whether the allegations against Justice Tsoho both the asset declaration claims reported by Premium Times and the bribery allegations published by Pointblanknews.com will result in formal investigations or disciplinary proceedings remains uncertain as of press time.