EFCC not investigating CJN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied a news report that it is investigating the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen over corruption allegations.

A statement yesterday by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said the news report which appeared yesterday regarding a list of high profile Nigerians including the CJN, said to be currently under investigation by the EFCC, did not emanate from the commission.

“It is important to state that this report did not emanate from the EFCC and the allusion to ‘an EFCC source’ is diversionary and mischievous,” he said, adding, “For the avoidance of doubt, cases under investigation communicated to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation by the Commission are classified information and it is troubling how such would be leaked to the media.

The mastermind of this leak is out to create disaffection between the Commission and, particularly, the Judiciary. The Commission wishes to state categorically that it is currently not investigating Justices Onnoghen and Kafarati.”

Reacting also, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen said he had neither been invited nor called upon to offer any explanation on any impropriety by the EFCC.

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant (Media), Awassam Bassey, the CJN said he only became aware of alleged allegations or intelligence against him through reports in the media.

“The reports in the media mentioned the reason for the investigation as ‘intelligence’ which for now we take to be abstract. 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 statement said, advising the public to keep faith and trust in the present administration’s fight against corruption and be assured that the CJN was doing his best to reform the Judiciary accordingly.”