NJC gives Onnoghen, Muhammad seven days to respond to petition

*Refers petition against CCT Chairman to FJSC

*To reconvene February 11

The National Judicial Council (NJC) Tuesday rose from its emergency meeting in Abuja and gave  a seven-day ultimatum to both the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the Acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to respond to various petitions against them.

The council which met at its Secretariat in Abuja considered four petitions in all; one against Onnoghen, two against Muhammad and the other against the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar.

Ibrahim Muhammad is to respond to a petition against him over an alleged breach of NJC rules.

The body also referred the petition written against Danladi Umar, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

According to a statement by the NJC, the council elected a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, to preside as Interim Chairman as both Onnoghen and Muhammad, excused themselves from the meeting.