Trouble Looms as Investigation Reveals Justice Tsoho Failed to Declare Multiple Accounts

Trouble appears to be mounting for John Terhemba Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed that he may have violated Nigeria’s Code of Conduct law by failing to declare several bank accounts in his official asset filings. The findings emerge as the National Judicial Council intensifies oversight of the judiciary.

Documents reviewed and interviews conducted by PREMIUM TIMES indicate that in the asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on April 29, 2024, Justice Tsoho did not disclose several bank accounts held in both naira and foreign currencies. Among these are three accounts with United Bank for Africa (3000087154, 3000201901, 3000075689) and one account with Access Bank (1756816871).

Under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officers are required to declare all assets, including bank accounts, and ensure that these declarations are accurate. Failure to disclose assets or submitting false information is considered a breach of the law and may lead to sanctions including removal from office and forfeiture of improperly declared assets. Justice Tsoho did not respond to multiple calls or messages seeking comment for this report.

Section 15 of the Act mandates that declarations cover all properties, assets, and liabilities upon assuming office and at specified intervals thereafter. Any statement found to be false is deemed a violation, and assets acquired after a declaration without legitimate sources of income are presumed unlawfully obtained unless proven otherwise. If found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Tsoho could face removal from office, disqualification from public office for up to 10 years, and seizure of undeclared assets. Tribunal decisions are appealable to the Court of Appeal.

A conviction for false asset declaration would draw parallels to Walter Onnoghen, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, who was removed from office in 2019 for failing to declare certain bank accounts. Onnoghen’s initial forfeiture of accounts was later overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2024 following a settlement with the federal government.

Justice Tsoho became acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on July 26, 2019, and was confirmed as substantive Chief Judge later that year. Born on June 24, 1959, in Mbaduku, Benue State, he earned an LLB (Hons) from the University of Lagos in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He joined the Benue State Judiciary in 1986, advancing from Magistrate Grade II to Chief Magistrate Grade I before his 1998 appointment as a Federal High Court Judge. Past controversies include case reassignments and decisions affecting high-profile figures, including the former Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele. Allegations of age falsification have also been raised but remain unverified.

The investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny of the judiciary by the National Judicial Council, chaired by Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Sources indicate the council is reviewing petitions alleging misconduct by senior judicial officers, including false asset declarations. Whether the findings against Justice Tsoho will result in formal proceedings before the Code of Conduct Bureau or Tribunal remains unclear at the time of filing.