CCB Summons Chief Judge John Tsoho Over Asset Declaration

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has summoned Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, to respond to questions concerning alleged undeclared bank accounts in his asset declaration form. Reports indicate that Tsoho's declaration, submitted on April 29, 2024, did not disclose several bank accounts, which is required by law.

The CCB's inquiry comes in the wake of previous high-profile allegations against senior judicial officers, notably the case of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Samuel Nkanu Walter Onnoghen, who was convicted in 2019 for failing to declare assets. The appeal court later acquitted Onnoghen, ruling that the Code of Conduct Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to convict him without first referring the matter to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Tsoho has been serving as a judge since November 12, 1998, and was elevated to Chief Judge on December 13, 2019. The ongoing allegations against him highlight significant scrutiny within Nigeria's judiciary.