AFRICMIL writes CCB, demands asset declaration form of acting CJN

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy
(AFRICMIL), a non-governmental organization, has asked the Code of
conduct Bureau (CCB) to make public the assets declaration of
Ibrahim Muhammad, acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

In a letter dated January 28 to the chairman of the CCB, Chido
Onumah, coordinator of AFRICMIL, said the group relies on its
constitutional right to access information of public officials.

The group asked the bureau to inspect and obtain copies of
Muhammad’s assets declaration forms on his elevation as a justice
of the supreme court and on his appointment as acting CJN.

On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Muhammad as the
new CJN, pending the determination of the case against Walter
Onnoghen, ex-CJN, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Onnoghen was accused of false assets declaration.

“Pursuant to the aforementioned provision of the 1999
constitution, as amended, and Section 1(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act 2011 which states that, “Notwithstanding anything
contained in any other Act, law or regulation, the right of any
person to access and request information, whether or not contained
in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any
public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is
hereby established,” we humbly request to be allowed to inspect and
obtain copies of the following documents,” the letter read.

“The asset declaration of Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko
Mohammed JSC on his elevation as a Justice of the Supreme Court of
Nigeria; the asset declaration of the Honourable Justice Ibrahim
Tanko Mohammed JSC on his appointment as Acting Chief Justice of
Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It is the sole responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau to
ensure that all public officers declare their assets at the
beginning and the end of their tenure in office. It is also their
responsibility to ensure that the assets declared are verified to
ensure compliance with the provisions of the law and also to
establish possible cases of misconduct or corrupt enrichment, with
a view to ensuring such culprits face the full wrath of the
law.

“The CCB has the constitutional responsibility to retain custody
of such asset declaration forms and make them available and
accessible for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms
and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.”