Reps move to block the 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 Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal are intended to be amended by the bill, which is supported by Bob Solomon of Rivers State.

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

He noted that the constitution did not contemplate the trial of a judicial officer before removal from office. Solomon said if the amendment is successful, a president will require approval of the National Assembly before the removal of a CJN.

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.