The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Wednesday, reacted to an alleged investigation centred on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying he is ready for probe.
The CJN, who said he was ready to surrender himself to the EFCC, was reacting to a report in a national daily that he was among some high profile Nigerians who are currently under investigation.
Insisting that he has nothing to hide, Justice Onnoneghen said his attention was drawn to a media report that he was being investigated by the anti-graft agency “for yet-to-be disclosed reasons”.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Awassam Bassey, the CJN said he was “ready to pay the required price to make the nation a better place”, adding that he has never been invited or called upon by the EFCC to offer any explanation on any impropriety.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to media reports quoting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as probing the Hon. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, for yet-to-be disclosed reasons.
“The reports in the media mentioned the reason for the investigation as “intelligence” which for now we take to be abstract.
“However, the Hon. CJN wishes to use this medium to say that it is the first time he is being aware of any allegations or intelligence against him, neither has he been invited or called upon to offer any explanation on any impropriety.
“However, the Hon. CJN wishes to assure the public that he has nothing to hide and is open to investigation.
“As a committed patriot who has spent all his adult life in the temple of justice, the Hon. CJN is ready to pay the required price to make the nation a better place.
“The commitment of the Hon CJN to the efforts of the current administration to rid the country of corrupt practices is unwavering and he will stop at nothing to see a new dawn in Nigeria’s Judiciary.
“He will also not be distracted in his avowed reformative efforts to make the Nigerian Judiciary a beacon of well-rounded justice which the entire citizenry will be proud of.
“The public is encouraged to keep faith and trust in the present administration’s fight against corruption and be assured that the CJN is doing his best to reform the Judiciary accordingly”.
