By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
A leading civil society watchdog dedicated to judicial transparency and executive accountability, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN) has demanded that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) should immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of undeclared accounts and age falsification leveled against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
The civil society watchdog made the demand through a statement on Friday by its Media Coordinator, Aisha Bello in Abuja.
OWN insisted that this investigation is imperative, as the allegations are extremely weighty, bordering on corruption, professional misconduct, and constitutional violations that strike at the heart of the integrity and image of the Nigerian Judiciary.
The statement by OWN listed the allegations against Justice Tsoho to include:
* Undeclared Foreign and Domestic Accounts: The operation of multiple bank accounts allegedly omitted from his mandatory asset declaration forms. This constitutes a direct violation of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
* Age Falsification: Discrepancies in official records suggesting a deliberate manipulation of his birth date to extend his tenure beyond the constitutionally mandated retirement age for judicial officers.
* Breach of Public Trust: The alleged utilization of his office to shield these discrepancies, thereby undermining the judiciary’s reputation as the “last hope of the common man.
Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN) maintained that the judiciary must be like Caesar’s wife: above suspicion.
In order to restore public confidence, OWN said, “We call on the Code of Conduct Bureau to verify Justice Tsoho’s asset declaration history. If found wanting, the matter must be referred immediately to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for prosecution.
“The National Judicial Council must act swiftly to suspend Justice Tsoho pending the outcome of these investigations to prevent any potential interference with the judicial process.
“In the interest of transparency, the findings of these investigations must be made public to demonstrate that no individual, regardless of their station, is above the law.
“The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court holds one of the most sensitive positions in our legal system. If the head of the court is mired in allegations of fraud and dishonesty, the entire temple of justice is desecrated. Nigeria cannot afford a judiciary led by shadows”, it said.
Stating that it remains committed to monitoring this situation closely, OWN declared, “We will not hesitate to mobilize civil society partners and legal experts to ensure that justice is served.
“The fight against corruption in Nigeria cannot succeed if it ignores the very institution meant to adjudicate it”, the group concluded.
