The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has resigned from office.
A senior lawyer in suspended CJN’s defence team in his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) reportedly said that Onnoghen put in a resignation letter on Thursday, which he sent to the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, barely 24 hours after the National Judicial Council (NJC) concluded investigating him for various allegations of misconduct.
There has not been an official confirmation from the Supreme Court. Also, Onnoghen’s spokesman, Awassam Bassey, could not be reached.
But lead counsel to Onnoghen, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) explained why his client resigned.
Awomolo, while confirming that Onnoghen resigned on Thursday, said he (Onnoghe) said he acted in the interest of the judiciary.
The lawyer said: “I have just spoken with him. He confirmed to me that he resigned yesterday (Thursday). He said he resigned in the interest of the Judiciary.”