BEVERLY HILLS, January 29, (THEWILL) – Lagos-born Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour may emerge Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, following the controversy presently rocking the highest judicial office in the land.
With the National Judicial Council’s decision to look into very strong petitions filed against suspended CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and Acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the consensus amongst the senior lawyers THEWILL spoke to Tuesday, is that both justices may be recommended for retirement to give the judiciary a break from the politicization of the crisis presently rocking the office of the CJN. If this becomes the case, then the Lagos State born Justice Rhodes-Vivour, who is third in-line will be nominated as the new CJN.
Onnoghen is accused by the state of allegedly not declaring his bank accounts (foreign currency and naira accounts). Prosecutors say the balance on the accounts run into several millions of naira and several thousands of dollars which could not have been from his earnings as a judicial officer.
The petition against Justice Muhammad seeks to have him punished for accepting to become acting CJN despite knowing that President Buhari lacked the power to unilaterally suspend Onnoghen.
THEWILL can report that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, played a key role in Rhodes-Vivour’s appointment into the Supreme Court.
THEWILL recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari Friday’s contentious suspension of Onnoghen as CJN has become partisan with the president’s party and supporters throwing their support behind the decision while the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its supporters are seeking the reinstatement of the Justice.
Lawyers, the media, rights groups and the general public are also on either side of the divide following the action of the president.
This is the ranking of the top five Supreme Court Justices as at today: Justice Walter Onnoghen, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Justice Mary Odili and Justice Olukayode Ariwola.
About the Author
