Less than two months after he was charged with non-declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen has reportedly resigned.

The embattled Onnoghen reportedly sent his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, 24 hours after the National Judicial Council (NJC) concluded their investigations over the plethora of allegations of misconduct levelled against him.

Confirming the development, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo told reporters that the suspended CJN resigned on Thursday. He however added that he was not authorized to speak on the issue.

President Buhari suspended Onnoghen just weeks before the February general elections and that prompted  outrage from several quarters. Many Nigerians felt it was a move to ensure that someone else who would protect the interest of the president in the expected season of electoral litigations became the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The opposition was very loud in its claim that Buhari was trying to manipulate the judiciary.

By the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, a request to remove the CJN must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Apparently, since the President lacked the power to summarily dismiss a CJN, he eased him     out of office by another means. Onnoghen was suspended  by Buhari and immediately replaced with Justice Tanko Muhammad in acting capcity.

The CJN has since appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal which adjudicates on alleged breaches of the code of conduct for public officers as it relates to the declaration of assets. Earlier in the week, Onnoghen’s team of lawyers closed his case at the tribunal after calling one witness. His reported resignation therefore adds to the high drama which has characterised his tenure as Chief Justice of Nigeria .