The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has expressed deep concern over reports that political and institutional actors are pressuring Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing investigation of Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement signed on Saturday by its Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Zikirullahi M. Ibrahim, CHRICED said the development raises serious concerns about possible interference in a process that should remain guided strictly by law and due process.
According to reports by Premium Times, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is currently probing allegations that Justice Tsoho failed to declare certain assets as required by law.
The reports further indicate that influential figures within political and judicial circles are allegedly lobbying the Presidency to halt, delay, or weaken the investigation.
CHRICED stressed that the independence of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and accountability institutions must remain non-negotiable, warning that any attempt to obstruct the lawful work of the CCB would undermine the rule of law and further erode public confidence in governance institutions.
CHRICED noted that asset declaration laws are designed to promote transparency and accountability in public service and must apply equally to all public officials, regardless of their position.
It recalled that failure to declare assets led to the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, in 2019 during the administration of the late Muhammadu Buhari.
According to CHRICED, allowing any individual to evade scrutiny would create the dangerous impression that certain persons are above the law, stressing that members of the judiciary must be held to the highest standards of integrity.
It also emphasized that as head of a court that handles some of the country’s most sensitive political and economic cases, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court must demonstrate accountability and ethical leadership.
CHRICED argued that the credibility of the judiciary can best be preserved if the investigation proceeds transparently, professionally, and without interference. It warned that any executive intrusion into the matter could damage the anti-corruption credentials of the current administration and set a troubling precedent for future political interference in investigations involving public officials.
While affirming that every citizen, including judicial officers, is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the group stressed that such a principle does not exempt individuals from lawful and transparent scrutiny when allegations arise.
It therefore called on President Tinubu to resist any pressure to interfere in the investigation and allow the Code of Conduct Bureau to perform its statutory duties independently.
CHRICED also urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to handle the matter in a way that strengthens public confidence in the judiciary, noting that trust in the institution is already at a historic low amid allegations of corruption.
It further encouraged the media, civil society organizations, professional bodies, and citizens to continue advocating transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law, particularly within the justice sector.
CHRICED concluded that Nigeria’s democratic institutions can only grow stronger when accountability mechanisms are allowed to operate freely, independently, and without political interference.
