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Tag: Walter Onnoghen

  • ‘Onnoghen is battering himself’

    A Benin based lawyer, Barr. Eddy Osifo, has said that embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, would return to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for trial no matter the number of appeals filed at various courts.

    Barr. Osifo, who served as Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources under late Professor Ambrose Alli, said Onnoghen is battering himself more by resisting attempts to investigate, arraign or punish him.

    Osifo who spoke in a chat with our reporter said Onnoghen should have apologized and requested for retirement since he admitted to the offence of non-assets declaration.

    He noted that it was wrong for some lawyers to say the matter should have been referred to the National Judicial Council when such body cannot try judges that commit traffic offences.

    According to him, “Onnoghen would have known that he is running the matter in a manner it will batter himself more by resisting this attempt to investigate and arraign or punish him.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: Falana accuses NBA of double standard

    “If I were him, I would have apologized and asked for retirement. He has admitted that he forgot to declare his assets and that is an offence. I don’t see how any court will say it is not an offence.

    “You cannot ask NJC to try a Judge who commits tragic offence. Onnoghen will dance up and down and still return to the CCT. Let him appeal to anywhere, he will still go back to the CCT.”

    “I do not think is proper for the NBA to call for boycott of court. They are adding salt to injuries. A lot of litigants or accused people will suffer from the boycott of courts. They are inviting chaos and chaos will not save Nigeria. It is enough for them to take a stand. I am questioning the boycott of courts. It is wrong for them to boycott of courts. “

  • I participated in NJC meeting, says NBA President

    The President of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ), Paul Usoro (SAN) has denied rumour that he left early and did not participate in Tuesday’s emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in Abuja.

    Usoro said, contrary to the wrong impression created by some publications, he participated in the meeting until all NBA’s representatives were asked to excuse the meeting when petitioners against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the acting CJN, Justices Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Muhammad were about to be considered.

    The NBA President, who said he presented his association’s position to the meeting, said he was the last of NBA’s representatives to exit the meeting.

    Usoro’s position is contained in a statement issued early on Wednesday by NBA’s Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun.

    The statement reads: “Gentlemen, while our patriotic members were doing the needful to ensure full compliance with the directive of NBA-NEC regarding the boycott of courts, a false reportage was published purporting that the NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN did not participate in the NJC meeting yesterday, and left early.

    “Please, kindly disregard the false reportage. It is most unfortunate that important issues can be trivialised for no just cause. The story is 100% untrue.

    Read Also: What NJC must do, by Mamora, Igbokwe, others

    “The NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN was at the meeting with the other NBA representatives up to the point that the NJC had to consider the petitions against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen and Hon. Mr. Justice Tanko Muhammad, at which point the NBA representatives had to leave the meeting in compliance with the constitutional stipulation that excludes NBA representatives from the meeting when disciplinary issues are considered by the NJC.

    “It is important to also state that before the exit of the NBA Representatives, the NBA President had fully briefed the NJC on the NBA stand & position, and the Council was most appreciative.

    “We continue to urge members not to be distracted by such negative reportage. The NBA remains non partisan but shall continue to insist that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be respected by all parties regarding the purported suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”

  • Falana urges NJC to ask Onnoghen to step aside

    Rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to compel the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen to step aside pending the determination of the case against him.

    Falana said his position was informed by NJC’s precedent, in which it, few years back, directed judges arrested by security agents and charged to court, to excused themselves from judicial duties until their cases were concluded.

    He accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of engaging in double standard by taking a position to oppose Onnoghen’s suspension.

    Falana argued that it was wrong for the NBA, that called for the suspension of judges, who were arrested by security agents in 2016, to now turn around to insist that a CJN, against who a charge is pending, should remain in office.

    Falana, who was at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to attend to a case, in defiance of the NBA’s directive that lawyers boycott court, said the directive was ignored by many lawyers, who turned up in court on Tuesday.

    He said, while he faulted the Executive’s decision to suspend the CJN on an ex-parte order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), he thinks Onnoghen should resign.

    Falana said: “I have a case before court number 26 in the FCT High Court, Abuja. I left Lagos yesterday to handle my case. My clients are around. I have a contract with my client, which supersedes the directive of the NBA.

    “I thought the court would sit. But, unfortunately, we were told the judge is involved in a seminar in preparation for the sittings of the election tribunals, which, for me, is a good excuse for not siting.

    “But, on a very serious note, I am not bound by the resolution of the NBA. I have consistently maintained my position in this self-inflicted crisis that we are going through.

    Read Also: Submit yourself to Police, Falana advises Melaye

    “I have condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the basis of an ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. And, at the same time, I have also asked that the suspension be lifted.

    “I have also pleaded with the Chief Justice to do the needful by resigning from office. And I think there is still an opportunity to do what is needed to be done.”

    On why he chose to attend court on a day the NBA directed lawyers to shun courts, Falana argued that with the position he had maintained on the issue, he could not persuade himself “to engage in solidarity with criminality.

    “The National Judicial Council (NJC) should have met on the 15th of January, last week’s Tuesday, and that body would have had the opportunity to save the legal profession and the country this colossal embarrassment.

    “But the Chief Justice, as Chairman of the NJC, in his wisdom, decide unilaterally to postpone the meeting of the NJC indefinitely.

    “So, I am happy that some concerned members of the NJC requisitioned for a meeting of the body and the body is meeting today. And we are hoping that, regardless of the boycott of the NBA, that body will follow its own precedents by asking the honourable Chief Justice to step aside.

    The was what the NJC, in 2016, when a number of judges were arrested and charged before the Federal High Court, the NJC rightly decided that those judges be interdicted on the advice of the NBA, and they were so interdicted.

    This time around, the NBA is busy, mobilizing lawyers to defend the Chief Justice. And the picture that I have seen in court, a very sad picture, reminds me of the trial of Mandela. The impression is being given that a freedom fighter is on trial. But, we all know that that is not the case here.

    “We shouldn’t have pushed ourselves to this embarrassing level that the Chief Justice of our country is on trial. You would have expected the NBA leaders to give the appropriate advice in this case.”

    When asked his assessment of the level of lawyers’ compliance with the NBA’s directive, Falana said: “You can see that many lawyers are here in court in defiance of the NBA resolution, because it is not a popular resolution.

    “From information at my disposal, lawyers have turned up in court all over the country to have their cases heard.”

    On whether those who complied were being misled, Falana said: “I will not say that. Everybody has his own freedom. This is a country of freedom. So, those who want to sit at home are entitled to their decision. Those of us in court are also entitled to do so.

    This place (the court premises) could not have been deserted because the NBA has adopted a resolution, which, from what you have seen, is not popular with its members.

    “In the interest of the legal profession, we must operate under the rule of law. And that is what has informed my criticism of the position of the Federal Government,” Falana said.

  • Onnoghen: Rivers Judiciary complies with strike protest

    Activities in all the courts in Rivers state in cluding the Appeal and Federal High courts were on Tuesday crippled by the two day warning protest by the Nigerian Barr Association(NBA), in respect of the perceived  illegal suspension of the Chief Judge of Nigeria(CJN), Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), of the NBA in a meeting in Abuja, the Federal capital territory, Monday directed all Lawyers in the country to boycott all court

    sitting for two days, on Tuesday and today  while a 3-man committee of two past presidents of the body (  Olanikpeku, A. B. Mahmood), and the current President Paul Usoro  interface with authorities concerned on the issue.

    Although all the courts visited were open court registrars (a. k. a. Clerks), on their seats, but the judges were not found sitting on any of the courts even when their cars were parked at in various parking lots.

    Lawyers were also sparingly seen around the courts, those who managed to cime around were either on mufty or not properly dressed for normal courtroom business.

    In the same vain, prisons warders were equally seen at the port Harcourt high court premises with the inmates from Port Harcourt Prisons for their matters before the courts, but they suspects were securely locked up at the court cell all through without being taken to court.

    The warders who interacted with the Nation Reporter said  “courts are not sitting, they are complying with the protest called for by the Nigerian Bar Association following the suspension of the CJN, so we cannot take the inmates to court, but those of them whose cases were adjourned today are all around but locked up in the cell.”

    Some of the relatives of the suspects who planned to see and talk with them on their way to court (the easiest opportunity to see and chat briefly with them without having to pay any toll or pass through protocoles) were seen lurking around the court cell.

    To kick off the action, Lawyers in the state staged a peaceful protest at the High court premises, they matched from the  Magistrate Court section to the High Court area and the to the Federal High Court through to the National industrial Court  and Appeal Court in Port Harcourt with the view of ensuring total compliance.

    Read Also: Security men chase staff off Onnoghen’s office

    Speaking to newsmen shorrly after the match, the state NBA chairman Sylvester Adaka, expresded the opinion that even if there are issues of corruption linked to the CJN,  the President should follow due process in handling it rather than arrogating power to himself.

    “It is not that NBA is encouraging corruption in any way, all we are saying is that there is a process which must be followed.”

    He appealed to litigants who would be affected by the suspension of work for two days by the NBA not to be panic, explaining that the move was to end executive’s disobedience to the rule of law.

    Meanwhile, former Attorney General of Rivers State and a Senior Advocate of Nigerian, Barinua Wifa, has stated that the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigerian, Justice Walter Onneghen, was a trial on the nation’s democracy.

    The legal luminary, who spoke in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, noted that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Onnoghen and appoint Justice Tanko Mohammed was hasty and did not follow the constitution of the nation.

    Wifa noted that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the constitutional backing to appoint or remove a judicial official without recommendations from the National Judicial Council, adding that the president acted contrary to the law.

    He said: “What is going on today is not a trial on the CJN, but a trail on Nigerian democracy. I am among the 25 persons that compiled what we are using today as the 1999 Constitution, and that made me automatically a Constitutional lawyer. There is no section of that constitution that gives the president such powers.

    “I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to be more noble by admitting his error and recall the CJN. There are so many motifs, but let us save this nation from disintegration.”

    Wifa, however, stated that the President may have acted as a result of fears, but advised Buhari to leave fear and do what is constitutional.

    “NJC made the recommendation for the appointment of the CJN, then why sacking him without returning to the same NJC. The president as it is, is trying to intimidate the judiciary, so he should recall him, and conclude their investigation and prosecution before the sack.

  • Updated: NJC queries Onnoghen, Muhammad

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) rose from its emergency meeting a moment ago with a decision to allow suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the acting CJN, Justices Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad seven days to respond to petitions pending against them.

    The petition against Onnoghen relates to the allegation of violation of the code of conduct for public officers in relation to his alleged failure to declare his assets.

    The petition against Muhammad relates to his alleged misconduct in allowing himself to be sworn-in in manner that breach existing law, tradition and constitutional provisions.

    NJC’s Director, Information Soji Oye, said, in a statement that the council also elected to refer petition against CCT Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

    It was learnt that Onnoghen and Muhammad were absent from the meeting, which was eventually chaired by retired Court of Appeal President, Umaru Abdulahi.

    The case against Umar, The Nation learnt, relates to his alleged abuse of judicial authority of breach of constitutional provisions by the orders he made in the course of proceedings in the charge against the suspended CJN.

    One of such orders is where the CCT rejected to be bound by orders given by High Courts, directing it to stay proceedings.

    Another is the ex-parte order the CCT made, on which President Muhammadu Buhari claimed to have relied in suspended Onnoghen and inaugurated Muhammad in acting capacity.

    It was also learnt that the NJC chose to abridge the usual 14 response time to seven, in view of the weighty issues involved in the petitions against Onnoghen and Muhammad.

    NJC adjourned to reconvene on February, 11 this year.

    Read Also; Onnoghen: NJC members in move to save Judiciary

    The statement reads: “The National Judicial Council held an Emergency Meeting today and considered four (4) petitions filed at its Secretariat. The petitions are:

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON by Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative;

    “Petition against Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CFR by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OON; and

    “Petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar, Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal by Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative.

    “Council referred the petition against Hon. Danladi Yakubu Umar to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) which is the appropriate constitutional body empowered to deal with it.

    “In line with its procedure, Council also forwarded the petitions against Hon. Justices W.S.N. Onnoghen, GCON and I. T. Muhammad, CFR to them for their responses.

    “In view of the gravity of the matters involved, Council abridged the usual response period from fourteen (14) to seven (7) working days for the Hon. Justices to respond.

    “Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON and Hon. Mr. Justice I.T. Muhammad, CFR recused themselves from the meeting. Consequently, Council elected Hon. Mr. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON, former President of the Court of Appeal as Interim Chairman to preside over the meeting.

    “Council will reconvene on the 11th February, 2019.”

     

     

  • CJN suspension: Yobe NBA shuns call for courts’ boycott

    The Yobe State branch of Nigeria Bar Association NBA has called on her members to disregard any directives from the Association’s National Headquarters to stay away from courts as a part of solidarity against the suspension of Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The Nation reports that lawyers nationwide were directed by the NBA president Paul Osoro to embark on a two-day warning boycott of the courts.

    According to him, the decision was arrived at from a NEC meeting of the Association which was held in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “The decision of NEC is that, to show the displeasure of the body of lawyers with regards to what has happened so far, it has been decided by the NBA NEC that lawyers should go on a two-day boycott of courts nationwide.

    “That is from tomorrow, Tuesday January 29 and also Wednesday, January 30, all lawyers should stay away from courts.

    ”This is to register the discontent of the NBA with the incident that has happened, and the fact that due process was not followed with regards to the matter of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,” Usoro said.

    But in a statement signed by the branch Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Kagu  and email to journalists in Damaturu rather asked members of the association in the state to disregard the orders.

    Dr Kagus  said the branch regretted the situation that led to the suspension of the number one law officer, but however expressed reservation that matter, insisting that only a competent court of law can resolve the matter.

    The Statement which was titled, ‘STATEMENT ON THE CALL TO BOYCOTT THE SITTINGS OF COURTS’ reads; “The Nigerian Bar Association, Damaturu Branch regrets the situation that led to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. As ministers in the temple of justice, we must insist that this is a matter that is already before the courts and should be left for the courts to decide.

    “One of the cardinal roles of the bar is to protect the character and essence of courts and their process. Therefore, boycotts or resorting to street actions on a matter that is before the courts is by far, a deviation from the fundamental principles that define the tenets of the legal profession and of democracy.

    “To advance the cause of justice for everyone, courts must be allowed to operate and make decisions on this and all other matters before them.

    “Hence, this branch of the NBA calls on all its members to shun any boycott of the courts and continue with their roles as prosecutors, judges and attorneys.

    “We respectfully give allegiance to the authority of the courts to deal with the matter in line with the rule of law and constitutionalism”.

  • Foreign interference won’t be allowed – Oshiomhole 

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has declared that it would not allow foreign countries to interfere in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    Oshiomhole was reacting to the coordinated statements by the United States of America (US), United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on Monday night after President Muhammadu Buhari had dinner with APC senators, he said: “The thing is that Nigeria is not a colony. I think we all have to be careful. We must defend the sovereignty of our country.

    Read Also:Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole reassure Nigerians of hope

    “We welcome collaboration, we welcome peer review, we can compare notes, we welcome people who are interested in sharing experiences with us whenever the need arises, whether it’s capacity building, making useful suggestions on how we can continue to improve on our electoral process.

    “Those are very valuable contributions that we appreciate.

    “But Nigeria is not a colony. We will not accept any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

    “When they dismiss judges in Europe…judges have been dismissed in the United States when they are found guilty of corruption and the Western world cannot on the one hand, when it suits them, describe Nigeria as fantastically corrupt and when a corrupt judicial officer is being charged, people want to interfere.

    “What anybody can insist on is, is anybody being framed? Is the suspended CJN guilty of the allegations made against him? Or is it something being cooked out from nowhere?

    “Now, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has breached the law, if a Chief Justice of the Federation admits that he has several foreign domiciliary accounts, even though he also admits that by nature of his office, he is not s trader, what is he doing with accounts in British pounds, US dollars and in Euros and to the extent of forgetting that he has those accounts?

    “If he has such memory failure about the size of his number of accounts as to fail to declare them, you and I know that even ignorance is not an excuse in law. So, why are we being hypocritical?

    “And at a certain level of responsibility, it’s not even about legal technicalities. It’s about the moral weight, the moral burden you carry.

    “So, nobody should make us feel as though we are at the mercy of any other country.

    “The future of Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians and our laws are clear. Our laws are meant to be obeyed,” he said.

    Oshiomhole added “If Nigerians thought that anybody other than the president and the vice president or a governor and deputy governor have immunity, it should have been so written into the constitution.

    “I don’t understand what the noise is about.

    “Some people say even if it is true, is this the proper timing? What is the best timing to prosecute a crime? Should we suspend criminal justice pending elections?

    “Then, some people say you know, because of the very unique role or rather, very delicate role the judiciary has to play in settling elections issues, that is the more reason that people are worried about the timing.

    “My question is, given that important role of the judiciary in times like this, is that the reason why you should allow a judge who has professed for breaching laws of the land, is that the reason to allow him to preside, to adjudicate over issues that have to do with fairness and justice?” he stated.

  • Pro, anti-Onnoghen protests rocks Abuja

    LAWYERS could not meet yesterday over suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen’s fate – no thanks to protests that rocked the venue in Abuja.

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) fixed the meeting to take a position on the suspension of the CJN by President Muhammadu on Friday.

    The pro and anti-Onnoghen protests were infiltrated by miscreants who stormed the meeting venue within the Central Business District (CBD).

    The protesters made it impossible for those against the suspension to air their view as they repeatedly chanted “Ba naso, Ba naso”, “Onnoghen must go”.

    For about three hours, vehicles could not pass as the protesters took over the road leading to the NBA secretariat venue of the meeting.

    Lawyers, who were billed to attend the meeting, could not make it to the venue.

    Security operatives had a hectic time controlling street urchins.

    Reporters were accused by the miscreants of taking side with the lawyers and not reporting their activities.

    The National Coordinator of the Advocacy for Civil Service and Justice, one of the groups protesting at the NBA secretariat, Giwa Victor, said they were not against the prosecution of Justice Onnoghen, but insisting that due process must be followed.

    He said: “We are not saying that Justice Onnoghen is not corrupt, we are not saying that he should not be removed or prosecuted. What we are saying is that due process should be followed and the petition against him should be sent to the NJC for action. There is no law in the land that vests the President with the power to suspend the CJN. Due process has to be followed.”

    Read also: Onnoghen: The wasp on the nation’s scrotum

    Co-Conveners of the National Interest Defenders, Ikenga Imo Ugochiyere, who condemned CJN Onnoghen’s suspension by the President, said the protest marked the beginning of civil action by Nigerians to reclaim their country from the grip of those who have treated “the constitution with disdain, our principles of constitutional governance with scorn and our democratic ethos with contempt and derision”.

    He said: “It is shameful that President Muhammadu Buhari relied on and used a forged and fictitious tribunal order to purport to suspend the CJN and appoint a factional Chief Justice while knowing that the order was forged and fictitious.

    “Nigerians will recall that the petition served on the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against the Chief Justice of Nigeria was received by the Bureau on the 9th January, 2019.

    “The purported tribunal order on which the President claimed he relied upon is also dated the same 9th January, 2019. The motion on notice seeking the same prayers as the purported Ex parte motion is dated 10th January, 2019, the charge filed was dated 10th January, 2019, while the statement of the CJN in answer to the petition was on the 11th of January, 2011.”

    He accused the President of violating the constitution, an action he said amounts to gross misconduct.

    Ugochiyere called on the NBA and the National Judicial Council (NJC) not to stand against what he described as impunity.

    According to him, the swearing in of Justice Tanko Mohammed as an acting CJN was an aberration.

    He said: “The NJC and NBA must order the shutdown of the courts until the illegal suspension of the CJN is lifted and Justice Tanko Mohammed made to vacate the office.

    “The NJC must expel Justice Tanko Mohammed from the bench for accepting an illegal appointment in violation of the constitution and the NJC rules of engagement.

    “The NBA must direct lawyers to boycott the Code of Conduct Tribunal presided over by Danladi Umar until disciplinary action is served on Umar for issuing a fake order that paved the way for impunity.

    “No provision in Sections 157 and 292 of the 1999 Constitution as amended supports the President in purporting to suspend the CJN or swearing in an acting CJN.

    ‘The whole idea of a limited government is that the President’s powers is limited by law and it is ultra vires his powers to act in the absence of explicit legislative authorisation. That is representative democracy at its best which our 1999 Constitution as amended guarantees.”

  • Protest in Calabar over Onnoghen’s suspension

    A group known as the “Concerned Cross Riverians on The Unconstitutional Suspension of the CJN” took to the streets to protest the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing as unconstitutional.

    They further demanded the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria with all his rights and privilege as the CJN.

    They also vowed to vote out the All Progressives  Congress (APC), at all levels especially President Mohammadu Buhari, as according to them, there were are so many burning issues that needed attention more than the “illegal suspension” of the CJN but have not been attended to.

    Reading a communiqué on behalf of the group a constitutional lawyer, Leo Anyogo, said the people of Cross River were dismayed by the development.

    “Whereas the peace loving people of Cross River have always contributed freely and enormously to the growth and development of the Nigerian state; we recalled with dismay the foot dragging in the swearing of Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Buhari after due recommendation by the NJC and confirmation by the senate which after pressure and outcry, was subsequently sworn-in by the then Acting President and current Vice President Prof Yomi Osibanjo.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: NJC members in move to save Judiciary

    “It is with total shock and disbelief that President Buhari in clear violation of S.292 of the constitution and that of the court of Appeal purportedly suspended the CJN without due process. This is clearly an assault on the Sacred Temple of Justice.

    “While we are in no way absolving the Honuorable Chief Justice of blame for any possible error, we insist that constitutionality and due process must be followed before his suspension or removal. We commend all those who are standing up for the defense of our constitution as we practice constitutional democracy with clear cut separation of Powers within the three Arms of Government.

    “It is more shocking to the sensibilities of the state, perhaps due to her peaceful nature, to play politics with the illustrious CJN, who has merited that position by the provision of our Supreme Law,” he said.

    “We hereby demand the immediate reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria with all his rights and Privileges as CJN as well as apologize to the Nigerian state and in particular Cross River for the attempted extra-constitutional and extra judicial removal of the CJN. There must be observance of due process and respect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in suspending or removing the CJN,” he read.

  • Pro and anti- Onnoghen protesters rock Abuja

    Both pro and anti- Onnoghen protesters on Monday clashed at the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA) disrupting the planned meeting of the association aimed at taking a position in the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Street Urchins apparently hires to disrupt the meeting stormed the venue of meeting located in the central business district of Abuja made it almost impossible for those against the suspension to air their view as they continuously shouted Ba maso, Ba maso, Onnoghen must go among others.

    For about three hours vehicular activities was disrupted by the protesters making it impossible for lawyers who were supposed to be part of the meeting to come for the meeting, while those who came for the meeting were seen hanging around discussing in low tone.

    The handful of Security men deployed to keep the peace had a hectic time trying to control the urchins and prevent them from attacking the lawyers present, while some of them accused the media of taking side with the lawyers and not reporting their activities.

    National Coordinator of the Advocacy for Civil Service and Justice, one of the groups protesting at the NBA secretariat, Giwa Victor said they were not against the prosecution of Justice Onnoghen but insisting that due process must be followed in handling the issue.

    He said: “We are not saying that Justice Onnoghen is not corrupt, we are not saying that he should not be removed or prosecuted. What we are.saying is that due process should be followed and the petition against him should be sent to the NJC for action. There is no law in the land that vest the President with the power to suspend the CJN. Due process has to be followed”

    Co-Conveners of the National Interest defenders, Ikenga Imo Ugochiyere who condemned the action of the President said the say marks the beginning of civil action by Nigerians to reclaim theircountry from the grip of thise who have treated “the constitution with disdain, our principles of Constitutional governance with scorn and our democratic ethos with contempt and derision.

    He said It is shameful that President Muhammadu Buhari relied on and used a forged and fictitious Tribunal Order to purport to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria and appoint a factional Chief Justice while knowing that the Order was forged and fictitious.

    He said: “Nigerians will recall that the Petition served on the Code of Conduct Bureau against the Chief Justice of Nigeria was received by the Bureau on the 9th January, 2019. The Purported Tribunal Order on which the President claimed he relied upon is also dated the same 9th January, 2019.

    “The Motion on Notice seeking the same prayers as the Purported Motion Exparte is dated 10th January, 2019, the Charge filed was dated 10th January, 2019 while the statement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria in answer to the petition was on the 11th of January, 2011.

    Read Also: Onnoghen suspension: APC senators red alert

    He accused the President of violating the constitution he swore to uphold, an action he said amounts to gross misconduct and it most certainly warrants his removal Of Office and asked the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, national importance and patriotism, commence without any delay the impeachment process of the President.

    He called on the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council NJC not to allow this impunity to stand, describing the swearing in of a factional CJN called Tanko Mohammed was an act of treason , the Tribunal order purportedly used was a forged document issued by Danladi Umar and backdated to even a date before the main charge was filed.

    He said “the NJC and NBA must order the shutdown of the courts until the illegal suspension of the CJN is lifted and the impostor CJN justice Tanko Mohammed made to vacate the office. The NJC must expel Justice Tanko Mohammed from the bench for accepting an illegal appointment in violation of the constitution and the NJC rules of engagement, The NBA must direct lawyers to boycott the Code of Conduct Tribunal presided over by Danladi Umar until disciplinary action is served on Umar for issuing a fake order that paved the way for impunity.

    “We however remind Justice Tanko Mohammed that he risks spending some time in jail as any attempt to parade himself as the factional CJN will be in contempt of a live and valid order of the Federal High Court and we shall not hesitate to proceed against him in contempt.

    “The National Assembly should also immediately commence action for the removal from office of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, who having criminal charges against him and still sits in office dumped Nigeria in a state of constitutional hiatus by criminally ordering the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “No provision in Sections 157 and 292 of the 1999 Constitution as amended supports the President in purporting to suspend the CJN or swearing in an acting CJN. The whole idea of a limited government is that the President’s powers is limited by law and it is ultra vires his powers to act in the absence of explicit legislative authorization. That is representative democracy at its best which our 1999 Constitution as amended guarantees.