The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avoid interfering in the ongoing probe of Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, amid reports that political and judicial actors are lobbying the Presidency to halt or weaken the investigation.
CHRICED issued the warning following reports that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is examining allegations that Justice Tsoho failed to declare certain assets as required by law. The group cautioned that pressure on the Presidency to intervene could undermine transparency and the rule of law.
In a statement on Sunday, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED, said, “Allowing any individual to evade scrutiny would send a dangerous message that some persons occupy a privileged space above the law. The judiciary, as the guardian of justice, must be held to the highest standards of integrity.”
CHRICED stressed that the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and accountability institutions is non-negotiable. The organisation warned that any obstruction of the CCB’s lawful duties would weaken public trust and damage the credibility of democratic institutions.
The group recalled that failure to declare assets previously led to the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, in 2019 during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. CHRICED urged that the current investigation proceed transparently, professionally, and without interference to safeguard the judiciary’s integrity.
While affirming the presumption of innocence for all citizens, including judicial officers, CHRICED emphasised that allegations of misconduct must be subjected to lawful and transparent scrutiny. The organisation also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to handle the matter in a way that strengthens public confidence in the judiciary.
The statement concluded, “Nigeria’s democratic institutions can only grow stronger when accountability mechanisms operate freely, independently, and without political interference.”
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