Judicial body meets to dismiss Nigeria's highest judge



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Nigeria's regulatory body for judges met in an emergency session Tuesday after a heated dispute over the suspension of President Muhammadu Buhari's president.

Judge Walter Onnoghen was suspended on Friday after being accused of failing to declare bank accounts in foreign currency, in violation of the rules governing public officials.

His dismissal and his replacement gave rise to allegations that Buhari had acted against the constitution and sought to manipulate the judicial system a few weeks before the presidential elections.

The February 16 polls should be close, while election fraud was predicted.

Disciplinary proceedings against judges are normally handled by the National Judicial Council (NJC), while the dismissal of the Chief Justice must be approved by Parliament.

The NJC said in a statement that it has received four complaints – one against Onnoghen and two against its replacement, Acting Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

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The fourth complaint concerned the chairman of the Code of Ethics Court, Danladi Yakubu Umar, who was to hear the case of Onnoghen.

The petition against Onnoghen concerns his alleged non-declaration of wealth, told AFP a source at the board who requested anonymity.

Tanko is accused of having accepted his undertaking without following the procedures, while Umar is accused of ignoring a decision of the Court of Appeal to discontinue the proceedings, a- he added.

"Given the seriousness of the issues at stake, the Council has reduced the usual response time of 14 to 7 business days to judges," said Soji Oye, NJC spokesperson.

"The Council will meet again on February 11, 2019," he added in a statement.

The Nigerian Bar described Buhari's movement as a "coup attempt against the judiciary" and ordered its members to boycott the courts for two days in protest.

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