Hands off Tsoho probe, Tinubu told

President Tinubu

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to keep his hands off the ongoing probe of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Tsoho, amid reports that powerful political and judicial actors are lobbying the Presidency to halt or weaken the investigation.

The group said the warning followed reports that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is investigating allegations that Justice Tsoho failed to declare certain assets as required by law, raising concerns that pressure may be mounting on the Presidency to step into the matter.

The position was contained in a statement on Sunday by Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of CHRICED.

“These developments raise serious red flags about the potential for undue interference in a process that must remain strictly governed by law, transparency, and due process.

“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,” the organisation said.

CHRICED said the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and accountability institutions must be protected, warning that any attempt to obstruct the lawful work of the Code of Conduct Bureau would undermine the rule of law and weaken public trust in the country’s governance system.

“We reiterate that the independence of Nigeria’s anti corruption and accountability institutions is non negotiable. Any attempt, direct or indirect, to obstruct the lawful work of the Code of Conduct Bureau would undermine the rule of law and further erode public trust in the nation’s governance architecture.

“It is worth recalling that failure to declare assets as required by law led to the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, in 2019 under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The most effective way to safeguard the credibility of the judiciary at this critical moment is to ensure that the investigation proceeds transparently, professionally, and without interference.

“Any executive intrusion into this matter risks damaging the anti corruption credentials of the current administration and setting a precedent that could embolden future political interference in investigations involving public officials,” CHRICED said.

While affirming that every citizen is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the group said allegations of misconduct must still be examined through lawful and transparent processes.

“CHRICED affirms that every citizen, including judicial officers, is entitled to the presumption of innocence. However, this principle does not negate the obligation to subject allegations of misconduct to lawful and transparent scrutiny.”

The organisation called on President Tinubu to resist pressure and allow the Code of Conduct Bureau to carry out its statutory duties independently.

It also urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to handle the matter in a way that strengthens public confidence in the judiciary.

“We urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ensure that this matter is handled in a manner that strengthens, rather than further diminishes, the integrity of the judiciary. The NJC must confront the reality that public confidence in the judiciary is at a historic low amid widespread allegations of corruption.

“Nigeria’s democratic institutions can only grow stronger when accountability mechanisms operate freely, independently, and without political interference,” the organisation added.