Report: Tsoho, FHC chief judge, faces possible removal over ‘non-declaration’ of some assets

 

John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court (FHC), appears to have violated the code of conduct law by not making full disclosure of his assets, according to an investigation by Premium Times.

The newspaper alleged that he did not declare three of his accounts with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and another with Access Bank.

If this is picked by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) or the anti-corruption agencies and he is found to have committed any infractions, he faces a number of sanctions, including removal from office and a 10-year ban on holding public office.

Premium Times reported that Tsoho did not answer or return calls seeking his comment on the allegations.

TheCable has also contacted Tsoho for comments.

In its report, Premium Times listed the numbers of the accounts that it said were not provided in the asset declaration form he completed and submitted to the CCB April 29, 2024.

One of the accounts is denominated in dollars.

All public officers are required by law to disclose in full their bank accounts and the balances, among other assets such as properties.

The assets are liable to be seized, in addition to the offender being removed from office or banned from public office for 10 years.

Walter Onnoghen, a sitting chief justice of Nigeria, was convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in 2019 for false asset declaration, also relating to bank accounts.

The conviction was recently overturned by the court of appeal in what was thought to be a political settlement.