Scandal Rocks Judiciary: Judge Tsoho Accused Of Failing To Declare Bank Accounts

An investigation has alleged that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, did not disclose certain bank accounts in the asset declaration form he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in April 2024.

Documents reportedly reviewed by investigators indicate that Justice Tsoho may have omitted several naira and domiciliary accounts in the declaration he completed on April 29, 2024. According to Premium Times, the accounts allegedly not disclosed include three held with United Bank for Africa and one with Access Bank.

Under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct framework, public officers are required to declare all assets, including bank accounts and the funds contained in them. Failure to disclose assets or making false declarations constitutes a violation of the law and may attract penalties, including removal from office.

Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act mandates that public officials declare all properties, assets, and liabilities upon assumption of office and at designated intervals thereafter. The law further provides that any false statement amounts to a breach of the Act, and assets not reasonably traceable to legitimate income may be presumed unlawfully acquired unless proven otherwise.

If found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, a public officer may face removal from office, disqualification from holding public office for up to 10 years, and forfeiture of improperly declared assets. Tribunal decisions are subject to appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Tsoho did not respond to phone calls or messages seeking comment on the allegations.

Any potential conviction for false asset declaration could invite comparisons with the case of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who was convicted and removed from office by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on April 18, 2019, for failing to declare certain bank accounts. The tribunal ordered the forfeiture of five of his accounts. However, on November 4, 2024, the Court of Appeal set aside the conviction following a settlement between him and the Federal Government.

Justice Tsoho was appointed Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on July 26, 2019, by then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad. He was subsequently recommended for substantive appointment by the National Judicial Council, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 30, 2019, and confirmed by the Senate on November 5, 2019.

Born on June 24, 1959, in Mbaduku, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, he earned an LLB degree from the University of Lagos in 1984 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 after attending the Nigerian Law School. He joined the Benue State Judiciary in 1986, rising from Magistrate Grade II to Chief Magistrate Grade I before being appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court in 1998. He became Chief Judge in 2019.

The allegations surface amid increased scrutiny within the judiciary. The National Judicial Council, chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has recently begun examining petitions against several senior judicial officers, including claims related to asset declarations.

Sources quoted by Premium Times described the petitions as “serious and troubling.” As of press time, it remains uncertain whether the allegations against Justice Tsoho will result in formal action by the Code of Conduct Bureau or proceedings before the tribunal.