Whats the Matter with the New CJN?

The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, has sworn in the remaining 13 members of the 2019 Election Petition Tribunals.

A statement from Mr Akande Festus, Supreme Court’s Director, Press and Information said that the ceremony took place on Thursday in Abuja at the Supreme Court.

The members are justices A.O. Onovo, R.O. Odugu, S.B. Belgore, T.A.O. Oyekan-Abullai, A.J. Coker, and E.I. Oritsejafor.

Others are justices M.C. Okoh, O.S. Olusanya, C.A. Ononeze-Madu, P.U. Nnodum and J.C.L. Okibe.

Addressing the new members of the tribunal, the acting CJN admonished them to be of good character and endeavour to live above board.

He said this was because all eyes were on them with a view to seeing them dispense justice without a tinge of partiality or favoritism.

Justice Mohammed also reminded them of the sacred nature of the oath they had just taken, stressing that it had become a bond between them and their creator.

He added that there would be no room for excuses or any performance below approved standards.

Mohammed informed the new tribunal members that they were thoroughly examined and later fished out from the numerous judges in the country who were equally eminently qualified for this task.

“That, alone, is enough credit that you should cherish and guard jealously,” he said

Meanwhile, two members, Justices I.O. Kasali and M.O. Obadina could not attend the ceremony.

Walter Onnoghen case was dismissed today, subsequent to calling three of its proposed six observers for the situation recorded against Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the Nigerian government has shut its case.

Onnoghen is standing preliminary on claims verging on deceitful revelation of benefits.

At the continued hearing on Thursday before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Aliyu Umar (SAN), who drove the arraignment counsel, shut its case after the third observer, Ifeoma Okeagbue, an authority of Standard Chartered Bank, finished up her declaration.

Umar  also offered to hand over the remaining three observers to the resistance group. Be that as it may, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the lead safeguard counsel, dismissed the offer.

A short time later, with the authorization of the three-man seat led by Danladi Umar, Awomolo counseled with Onnoghen, who was docked. He at that point declared that the litigant had taken the alternative to document a no-case accommodation, yet looked for time to compose a location.

“We mean to exploit Section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 on no-case accommodation. In the event that your lordship grants me to compose a composed location, I am going to be given procedures of eighteenth and today,” he expressed.

The CCT Chairman at that point fixed March 29 for direction to receive their composed locations.