By: Admin
Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen has reportedly resigned from his position. It was learnt that the embattled CJN turned in his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday evening, a day after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended that he be compulsorily retired for alleged misconduct.
By virtue of section 306 of the 1999 constitution, his resignation takes immediate effect as Section 306 says “(1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, any person who is appointed, elected or otherwise selected to any office established by this Constitution may resign from that office by writing under his hand addressed to the authority or person by whom he was appointed, elected or selected. (2) The resignation of any person from any office established by this Constitution shall take effect when the writing signifying the resignation is received by the authority or person to whom it is addressed or by any person authorised by that authority or person to receive it.”
The resignation is we gathered will save the president from having to get two-thirds majority of the senate to confirm Onnoghen’s retirement as stipulated in Section 292 (1) of the 1999 constitution which says a “judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances – (a) in the case of – (i) Chief Justice of Nigeria… by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.”
With the resignation, Onnoghen’s retirement benefits in cash and kind will cost tax payers about N2.5 billion.
However, if he is dismissed, he will not be entitled to any benefits and could be banned from holding public office for 10 years, while his assets believed to have been acquired illegitimately will be confiscated.
Although, his media officers are yet to confirm the resignation, but PUNCH, quoted a senior member of his legal team to have confirmed the resignation.
