Reps Pass bill To Prevent Removal Of CJN and Others Without National Assembly Approval

The House of Representatives has approved a bill to prevent the arbitrary removal of judges for a second reading. The bill, sponsored by Rivers State Senator Bob Solomon, seeks to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal.

According to Solomon’s lead debate, unless a judicial officer has been removed from office, he cannot be prosecuted by the CCB or appear before the CCT.

He pointed out that the constitution did not provide for a judicial officer to be tried before being removed from office. If the amendment passes, a president will need the National Assembly’s approval before removing a CJN, according to Solomon.

The bill was taken and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. It would be recalled that the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen, following allegations of non-disclosure of assets by the code of conduct bureau was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and was later forced to resign.