Onnoghen: Senate defers to NJC, discontinues case at supreme court

The senate has discontinued its case at the supreme court over Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari after the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) ordered that he step aside pending the determination of the case against him.

The suspended CJN is accused of false assets declaration.

The senate had approached the apex court to determine if Buhari acted within the law when he suspended Onnoghen and swore in Ibrahim Muhammad as acting CJN.

Senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) had distanced themselves from the suit.

In a statement on Monday, Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman of Senate President Bukola Saraki, said the upper legislative chamber discontinued the case following the intervention of the National Judicial Council  (NJC).

“The senate has therefore decided to discontinue the case it filed in the supreme court. It should be noted that the case has been slated for hearing tomorrow,” Olaniyonu said.

“This decision also affirm the confidence of the senate in the ability of the NJC to successfully and creditably resolve the issues.”