Alleged Perjury: Acting CJN Dragged To Court

Ibrahim Mohammed, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria has been dragged to court over alleged perjury.

Mr Mohammed who assumed office in acting capacity late last year is accused of falsifying his date of birth by a business man named Tochi Micheal.

Mr Michael, 46, filed his petition at a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last month. The suit number is FCT/HC/BW/CV/79/2019.

This is coming months after Walter Onnoghen, a former Chief Justice was ousted on allegations of failing to declare some assets traced to him.

Mohammed who succeeded Mr Onnoghen in office is accused of doctoring his date of birth from December 31, 1950, as stated in all his official records, to December 31, 1953 after becoming a judicial officer.

Micheal asked the court to determine whether such act did not constitute a criminal act of perjury, falsification and forgery.

He urged the court to determine if by allegedly falsifying his date of birth as a judicial officer, Muhammad has not violated the constitution of country.

The plaintiff also asked the court to determine if the acting CJN has not violated the code of conduct for judicial officers and as a result reduced the image of the judiciary to a state of disrepute and odium.

Micheal who was absent at the hearing of the case with no legal representation also prayed the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the top jurist for alleged perjury.

Counsel to Mohammed, Sam Ologunorisa, who claimed the suit was meant to embarrass his client, urged the court to dismiss the case because the petitioner was absent.

The presiding judge, Danlami Senchi, who ordered that the plaintiff be served hearing notices gave the petitioner another opportunity of appearing before the court and adjourned the matter to Friday.