Fake News! I Still Your CJN, Onnoghen Debunks Rumour of his Resignation

Justice Walter Onnoghen, the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, rose swiftly, on Friday,  to debunk the soaring notion that he had resigned, and declared: “It is fake news!”

The CJN has been at the eye of a roiling storm at the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he has been charged with false declaration of assets.

The CJN had, at the onset of the roiling scandal, told a bewildered nation that he forgot to make certain disclosures in his asset declaration. That included US$3million in his account and some rumoured 55 houses.

As if to convince Nigerians that he has not stepped aside as ordered by the Federal Government, Justice Onnoghen, via a release through his media assistant, on Friday, said he would, in fact be swearing in members of the various 2019 election petition tribunals on Saturday, January 26.

Bassey in the release, issued on Friday, rubbished the news of his boss’ purported resignation, describing it as “absolute falsehood”. He urged Nigerians to treat the rumour as thrash as his boss was at his desk still serving the country at the Temple of Justice.

Bassey’s words: “There’s absolutely no truth in the rumours making the round that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has resigned his office. It is fake news!

“The Hon CJN was in the office all through yesterday (Thursday) and sat in court. As part of his duties, the Hon CJN will be swearing in members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals tomorrow (Saturday 26th January 2019),” the statement said.

Justice Onnoghen is standing trial over alleged false asset declaration slammed against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Earlier in the week, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, had requested that the embattled CJN to step aside perhaps to prevent obstruction to justice in the matter.

But the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, ordered the tribunal to suspend sitting, pending the determination of some subsisting applications before it. Onnoghen wants the case against him quashed because, according to him, it lacks merit.

While the case at the CCT was adjourned till Monday, January 28, 2019, the Court of Appeal will decide on the matter on Wednesday, January 30.