Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, says he is not a judicial officer and is therefore not answerable to any institution but the Presidency.
He, therefore, rejected the authority of the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Umar said this while responding to a petition against him by an organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.
In a petition signed by Grace Wogor, the group asked the Federal judicial Service Commission to sanction Umar for abusing court processes and granting an ex parte order removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, when the CJN had not yet been convicted.
Umar explained that at the time of inauguration, members of the CCT only take official oaths and not judicial oaths.
On why he granted the ex parte order, Umar said he did so because it was within his power but added that he could not speak further since the matter was before the Court of Appeal and commenting on it would be subjudice.
PUNCH/BEN