EFCC intercepts Chief Justice Tsoho’s wife with $160,000…

The wife of the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, was reportedly intercepted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while on her way to Benue State and was later brought back to Abuja, according to sources close to the development.

A report by SaharaReporters claims that EFCC operatives discovered $160,000 in cash in his possession at the time of the interception.

“She was intercepted by EFCC operatives while traveling in Benue State and was later brought back to Abuja,” a source privy to the information said.

The source was quoted as saying, “$160,000 in cash was reportedly found in his possession at the time of the wiretap.”

The circumstances surrounding the funds and purpose of the trip have not yet been officially clarified.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny around Judge Tsoho.

The Chief Justice is scheduled to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on March 16, 2026, over allegations that he failed to declare his assets as required by law.

A petition accused Justice Tsoho of violating the Code of Conduct law by failing to fully disclose his assets, including three bank accounts at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and another at Access Bank.

If the Code of Conduct Office establishes a prima facie case, the anti-corruption body could bring charges against the chief justice. A conviction could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as well as a 10-year ban from holding public office.

In a statement released late Monday, the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Christopher, said the Chief Justice remained fully committed to cooperating with the office on his invitation.

The statement added that Justice Tsoho will appear before the bench alongside his legal representative, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who was reportedly out of the country for medical reasons.

According to the court, the senior lawyer indicated his willingness to accompany the Chief Justice to the Bureau upon his return to Nigeria.

“The Federal High Court of Nigeria wishes to make it clear that the Honorable Chief Justice, Hon Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, remains fully committed to cooperating with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) with respect to its invitation,” the statement read.

“In accordance with his constitutional right to consult and be represented by counsel of his choice, his legal representative, Kanu Godwin Agabi, CON, SAN, has indicated his willingness to accompany the Honorable Chief Justice to the Bureau upon his return to Nigeria, being currently out of the country on medical grounds.”

The court further revealed that the position had been formally communicated to the bureau, reaffirming the chief justice’s willingness to appear and participate fully in the trial in accordance with the law and established constitutional guarantees.

According to the statement, Judge Tsoho asked the bureau to schedule his appearance for any date starting the week of March 16, which he said would be most convenient for him and his legal counsel.

Justice Tsoho’s planned appearance before the Bureau follows an investigation by Premium Times that the judge had failed to declare several bank accounts as required by law, potentially breaching the rules of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct.

The report, based on documents and interviews, alleged that in an asset declaration submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on April 29, 2024, Justice Tsoho allegedly failed to list at least three accounts at United Bank for Africa and one account at Access Bank in his name.

Such omissions, if proven, would constitute a breach of Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Under Nigerian law, public officials are required to declare all assets, liabilities and bank accounts, including domiciliary accounts.

False or incomplete asset declarations can lead to sanctions such as dismissal from office, disqualification from holding public offices for up to 10 years and confiscation of improperly declared assets.

Judge Tsoho’s invitation from the CCB was reportedly issued as part of the bureau’s response to the investigation’s findings, although officials have yet to publicly outline the specific allegations against him.

Judge Tsoho, however, denied the allegations, insisting he had fully complied with all legal requirements for asset declaration.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nor the Office of the Chief Justice had released an official statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the wiretap or the money reportedly discovered in his wife’s possession.

[SaharaReporters]

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