The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under the leadership of its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to immediately effect the arrest, investigation and possible prosecution of the recently resigned Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, over corruption allegations by his former colleagues at the Supreme Court, .
Recall, that Justice Muhammad, it was revealed on Monday, tendered his resignation on Sunday night, citing ill health, and amid corruption allegations from 14 Justices of the Supreme Court that got Media attention in the past weeks.
Reacting however, to Justice Muhammad’s sudden resignation, HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, said: “The resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad as the Chief Justice of Nigeria is not enough; the EFCC and the ICPC must swing into action, investigate, then if a cause of action is ascertained, then arrest and prosecute him over the corruption allegations levelled against him by the 14 Justices of the Supreme Court, if a prima facie evidence exists.
“Justice Tanko must be prosecuted just as his predecessor, Walter Onnoghen, who was probed and later removed on a controversial note, following some allegations against him which were probed by both the NJC and the CCT.
“The investigation and probable prosecution of Tanko, if indicted, will set a precedent that Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is not a joke, unless it is a joke. Tanko’s prosecution, if found culpable of those sets of allegations, will also serve as deterrent for any proven corrupt justices that the Judiciary will not be a haven for scoundrels.”