The Nigerian Senate has approached the Supreme Court for interpretation of the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Onnoghen was suspended as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) last Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad was sworn in to take the CJN position in acting capacity.
Buhari had based Onnoghen’s suspension on a directive from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
However, the Senate has approached the Supreme Court to get clarification on the constitutionality of the president’s action.
The Senate had earlier announced it would reconvene on Tuesday over the matter, but the plenary has also been suspended. See Also BREAKING: Senate Cancels Emergency Plenary Initially Scheduled For Tuesday 4 Comments 4 Hours Ago
A statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman of Senate President Bukola Saraki, read: “Following the filing of the case, the matter of the suspension of the CJN which is the main issue for which the Senate had planned to reconvene tomorrow, has become subjudiced.
“Therefore, in line with the standing rules of the Senate not to debate issues that are already pending before the court, the reconvening of the Senate tomorrow has been put off. The previous adjournment of the Senate till February 19, 2019, stays.”
