The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Tuesday described as “untrue and evil”, reports that its personnel had invaded the Abuja residence of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Report had filtered in late afternoon that officers and men of the anti-corruption agency had invaded the embattled CJN’s Abuja residence in a bid to arrest him.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, raised the alarm on his Twitter page, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to call off EFCC from Onnoghen’s residence.
He wrote: “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him?
“These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late!
“This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop.”
But the spokesman of the commission Tony Orilade told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday that the fake news “ is being spread by evil men and women to get evil results.”
Justice Onnoghen also debunked the reports that his residence was invaded by operatives of the EFCC.
Reacting to the report, Senior Special Adviser to the CJN on media, Mr. Awassam Bassey, described it as false news. “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news.”
The court had asked the Federal Government to put on hold plans to arraign Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The Federal Government had, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), filed six counts of non-declaration of assets charges against Onnoghen.
However, ruling on two separate ex parte applications, Justice N.E Maha, ordered parties to maintain status quo until January 17.
