The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the reported summons issued to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Honourable Justice John Tsoho, by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged non-declaration of certain bank accounts.

In a letter dated March 2, 2026, addressed to the CCB Chairman, the NBA emphasized that the constitution grants exclusive authority to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate and discipline serving judicial officers. The association described the CCB’s action as a breach of constitutional provisions safeguarding judicial independence.

According to the association, media reports indicated that Justice Tsoho had been invited to appear before the Bureau to respond to allegations that he failed to declare several bank accounts in his asset declaration form, allegedly in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

Describing the development as constitutionally troubling, the NBA argued that any investigative or disciplinary process initiated against a serving judge without prior recourse to the NJC would violate the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Citing the Supreme Court’s decision in FRN v. Nganjiwa, the association stated that the apex court had unequivocally held that the NJC must first exercise disciplinary control over a serving judicial officer before any criminal or quasi-criminal proceedings can be commenced.

The NBA further contended that the summons issued to the Chief Judge could not be regarded as a “benign administrative interaction,” as it marked the commencement of a process capable of culminating in sanctions and therefore triggered constitutional safeguards designed to protect judicial independence.

“The involvement of the National Judicial Council is a constitutional condition precedent to any investigative or adjudicatory process against a serving judicial officer,” the letter stated.

The association warned that allowing the CCB or the Code of Conduct Tribunal to independently summon or try a serving Chief Judge would amount to an unconstitutional encroachment into the judicial sphere and could render such proceedings null and void.

Consequently, the NBA urged the CCB to withdraw the reported summons issued to Justice Tsoho and to forward any findings or concerns to the NJC for appropriate investigation and action.

_______________________________________________________________________ LAWBREED NEW WIG SPECIAL OFFER — Give a newly called lawyer a lasting professional gift.

Get up to 20% off selected LAWBREED Supreme Court Reports, plus access to My S.C Extra, featuring Supreme Court judgments from 1972 to date. Call/WhatsApp: 08077011741 | 08077011755 | 08077011730 | 08023269613 Email: orders@lawbreed.com | mails@lawbreed.com LAWBREED — Equipping You For Greater Success! ______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “How to use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion.” Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________