CCB summons Federal High Court Chief Judge over alleged undeclared accounts

Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, over allegations that he failed to disclose several bank accounts in his asset declaration form.

The move follows an investigation by Premium Times which reported that Justice Tsoho omitted multiple accounts from the form he submitted to the bureau on 29 April 2024.

Sources within the CCB said the judge was expected to appear before the bureau on Friday but did not attend. Officials now anticipate that he will appear on Monday to respond to questions concerning the undeclared accounts.

Documents reviewed by the newspaper indicate that three accounts domiciled with United Bank for Africa — 3000087154, 3000201901 and 3000075689 — were not listed in the declaration. The report also alleged that account number 1756816871, held with Access Bank, was not disclosed.

Under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct regime, public officers are required to declare all assets, including bank accounts and the funds held in them. Non-disclosure or false declaration constitutes a breach of the law and may attract sanctions, including removal from office.

Sources said that if the allegations are substantiated, the bureau would refer the matter to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for adjudication.

Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act mandates public officers to declare their properties, assets and liabilities upon assumption of office and at prescribed intervals. Any false statement in such a declaration is deemed a violation of the Act. The law also presumes unlawful acquisition where an asset obtained after a declaration cannot be reasonably linked to legitimate income, gifts or approved loans, unless proven otherwise.

If found guilty by the tribunal, Justice Tsoho could face removal from office, disqualification from holding public office for up to 10 years and forfeiture of improperly declared assets. Decisions of the tribunal are appealable to the Court of Appeal.

A conviction would draw comparison with the case of Walter Onnoghen, who was removed from office by the Code of Conduct Tribunal in April 2019 over undeclared accounts. His conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in November 2024 following a settlement with the federal government.

Justice Tsoho has previously faced criticism over administrative decisions, including the reassignment of a receivership case involving FBNQuest Merchant Bank/First Trustees and the Nestoil Group. In 2023, activists also questioned his refusal to grant a detention order against then Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele during an investigation. None of those allegations resulted in formal charges.

The development comes amid increased scrutiny within the judiciary. The National Judicial Council, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has begun reviewing petitions alleging misconduct by senior judicial officers, including claims of false asset declarations. The council has in recent months sanctioned and compulsorily retired several judges as part of efforts to strengthen oversight within the judiciary.