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Tag: Walter Onnoghen

  • NJC plans emergency meeting for Tuesday

    The National Judicial Council has summoned an emergency meeting of its members for Tuesday (January 29) to discuss “developments in the Judiciary.”

    The Nation gathered late on Sunday that members were notified late on Sunday are expected to arrive Abuja for the meeting scheduled for 10am.

    It was also gathered that the main agenda of the meeting surrounds the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the inauguration of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as acting CJN and the allegation of code of conduct violation against Onnoghen.

    The Nation equally learnt that Onnoghen and Muhammad may be excluded from the meeting, because of their involvement in issues to be discussed.

    A source at the NJC said the suspended CJN had allegedly prevented the body from addressing the issues surrounding the charge against him when he used his power, as Chairman of NJC to suspend indefinitely, the body’s meeting earlier planned for January 15 thus year.

    The source said: “I believe this meeting is meant for members to effectively look at the issues and recent developments in the Judiciary and for them to take a formal position.

    “Like the acting CJN said on Saturday, the Judiciary is truly in a trying time. And it is important that the NJC takes a formal position for posterity sake.”

     

  • I didn’t condemn Onnoghen’s suspension, says Aisha Buhari

    The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday denied issuing any statement condemning the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    According to a statement by Suleiman Haruna, who is her Director of Information, the alleged statement credited to her where she was said to have condemned the suspension of Justice Onnoghen was fake and untrue.

    The statement read, “The attention of wife of the President has been drawn to a post on social media to the effect that she condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “It is important to inform Nigerians that wife of the President has not made any public statements on the matter and therefore the commentary is untrue and fake.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: FG carpets PDP for suspending campaign

    “This is highly condemnable and we therefore advise the purveyors of such news to recant and desist henceforth.”

    There has been a report on social media with the title, “Breaking bombshell” alleging that the nation’s first lady has condemned the husband’s action for suspending the CJN.

    The report had been feasted by the social media quoted Mrs. Buhari as saying, “I totally condemn the illegal suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen. That desperate move is not just SHAMEFUL but UNWISE.

    “We have a constitution that is supreme and it must be unsentimentally respected. I implore Nigerians, especially our teeming youths to rise up and defend Nigeria before some very selfish individuals destroy us all.”

  • CJN suspension: UK expresses concern ahead of elections

    The UK Government has expressed concern over the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen ahead of the general elections.

    The UK made this known in a statement from its High Commission in Abuja on Saturday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday suspended Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Innocent is facing trial over allegations of corrupt practices before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    The UK Government said that it was compelled, as a friend of Nigeria, to observe that the timing of the suspension risked affecting the credibility of the forthcoming elections.

    “We have heard a wide range of credible and independent voices, including in the Nigerian legal profession and civil society, who have expressed concern over the constitutionality of the executive branch’s suspension of the chief officer of the judiciary.

    “We respect Nigeria’s sovereign authority and its right to adjudicate on constitutional provisions but as friends of the Nigerian people, we are compelled to observe that the timing of this action, so close to national elections, gives cause for concern.

    “It risks affecting both domestic and international perceptions on the credibility of the forthcoming elections.

    “We, along with other members of the international community, are following developments closely.”

    It also encouraged all actors to maintain calm and address the concerns raised through due process and demonstrate their commitment to respecting the constitution and the impartial administration of the rule of law.

    “We further urge them to take steps to ensure that elections take place in an environment conducive to a free, fair and peaceful process,” it stated. (NAN)

  • South-South governors, IYC condemn suspension of CJN

    South-South Governors and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, on Saturday condemned the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

    The Chairman of the South South Governors Forum and Governor òf Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, described the removal of Onnoghen as a sad day and a sad commentary on democracy in Nigeria.

    The governor in a statement signed his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the action was inimical to the desired stability of the nation and critical institutions of state.

    He said that Nigerians had a responsibility to be concerned about the electoral process and the critical institutions entrusted with the responsibility to safeguard democracy in the society.

    Dickson, who at the weekend received the Sun Newspaper Award for the Outstanding Politician of the year said that Nigeria would be heading in the direction of a shithole country if critical institutions of state failed to get it right.

    He lamented that the removal of Onnoghen from his exalted position showed in clear terms that democracy was under serious stress and test.

    He said: “Talking about the unfortunate development today, having read the details about it, and if the report that we are reading about it are anything to go by, then it is a very sad commentary on our nation’s democracy

    “It is a very sad day, for our nation’s democracy and for the stability of our nation, and the stability of the critical national institution of which the judiciary is primus inter pares.

    “We must be concerned about the process, the integrity of the national critical institutions that will safeguard and reinforce our democracy, seeing our democracy has come under very severe stress and test by what has happened today”.

    Read Also: ‘South-South is supporting Buhari’s re-election’

    He stressed that while the courts would make pronouncement on the legality or otherwise on the development around the CJN, he personally found the action condemnable

    “Is this action legal? I am sure the courts are there to make pronouncements on it one way or the order. However I have my views, and clearly I condemn it”, he said,

    He emphasized the need for due process and adherence to constitutional provisions stressing that countries are governed according to laws and mutual respect among the political class.

    The Governor said that there must be respect for processes in the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies.

    He said: “We should stop demonizing, criminalizing one another, because it takes Nigerians to build Nigeria. We cannot demonize all Nigerians and expect to be a great nation or to be taken seriously anywhere

    “And I believe essentially that whereas there are serious issue to be dealt with, we are essentially a good and decent people and a great nation potentially”.

    Also, the IYC in a statement signed by its Seceratry-General, Alfred Kemepado referred to the action of the President as an act of state violence and dictatorship

    He said suspension of the CJN was totally unlawful and shameful adding that it was as an attempted coup executed by the President Buhari administration against the judiciary and the law abiding the citizens of Nigeria.

    He accused the Presidency of having a plot to instigate unrest and violence in the Niger Delta region and the South South of the country.

    He said the South-South  no longer strongly felt that they were part of Nigeria under the Buhari administration.

    Kemepado recalled that the Buhari administration earlier unjustly removed Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, who meritoriously rose to the rank of the Director-General, Department of State Service (DSS)

    He said: “This  is the time for youths of Ijaw land and the Niger Delta to show how lazy they are or how resolute they can be. The international community, especially the governments  of the USA, the UK and the EU should note this unwarranted state violence against the people of the South-South Nigeria.

    “We call on the government of the USA and the UK to extend the ban on visas to the children and family members of those who are bent on instigating breakdown of law in Nigeria”.

     

  • CJN’s suspension: Agbakoba, activist kick

    A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has described the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, as an attack on the constitution.

    Onnoghen who was charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Jan. 14, with offences bordering on non-declaration of assets, was suspended on Friday.

    Justice Mohammed Tanko has been sworn in as the Acting CJN.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday, Agbakoba said that all actions ought to be stayed, pending the determination of several cases and appeals filed on the issue before various courts which ordered maintenance of status quo.

    He said that the suspension contravenes the ruling of CCT on the matter.

    “The CCT itself, adjourned proceedings in respect of Justice Onnoghen’s matter in order to determine if it has jurisdiction to try Justice Onnoghen; the suspension contravenes the ruling.

    “There are at least six pending cases in superior courts of Nigeria and one in the Court of Appeal.

    “All these cases ruled that Justice Onnoghen should remain in office pending when all cases against him are resolved.

    “In any case Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution sets out the procedure for removing or suspending the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “The power to suspend or remove the Chief Justice of Nigeria vests in the Senate side of the National Assembly,” he said.

    Agbakoba called for reversal  of the  suspension.

    Also, a rights campaigner, Chief Malcom Omirhobo, told NAN that the suspension violated constitutional provisions.

    Omirhobo said that the suspension of Onnoghen and appointment of Tanko as Acting CJN did not follow due process of law.

    “It is insulting to ignore the order of the Court of Appeal asking parties in the suit between the CCT and the CJN to maintain status quo.

    “As the law stands, Justice Mohammed Tanko was not recommended to the president by the Nigerian Judicial Council for appointment; therefore, such an appointment is unlawful.

    NAN

     

  • In the matter of Walter Onnoghen

    We are truly in interesting times in our dear country. The news broke the other day that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was to be docked for failing to declare so much money in his dollar and pound-denominated bank accounts before taking up his current appointment as the chief law officer of the land.

    So what? Shouldn’t what is sauce for the goose be sauce for the gander? If a Justice Ademola could stand arraignment in court, why not his boss, if he’s suspected of committing any infraction of the law? Is the ethnic background of the CJN the reason why he should be treated differently or the high office he is occupying?

    The bane of our country is our easy recourse to petty sentiment on issues. It is the reason for our near perpetual backwardness. On the other hand, the absence of It in the physche of citizens of advanced world is what is responsible for the huge developmental strides in those places.

    Of course on this matter, base ethnic sentiments have taken over national discourse while rational thinking has taken flight from most commentators. What is bad has no other name than bad. In this ONNOGHEN matter, biased politicians and rabid ethnic irredentists have been polluting the atmosphere with warped reasoning in part and outright mischief in sum total.

    Now, some questions. Is it true the CJN is the owner of the mountainous amount of money in foreign currency and the number of houses alleged to be his own, the number of which will make property giants, Knight, Frank and Rutley go green with envy?

    If not, is this an attempt to give a dog a bad name in other to hang it? Answers to all this can only be gotten in a smelly sweet atmosphere not under the putrid odour of prejudice that this issue had thrown up.

    And it is the political coloration to it that is even more dangerous. PDP says it is a ploy to rig the forthcoming elections, especially at the federal level; APC insists the hand that sins must be cut and that justice must be done no matter whose ox is gored. Good points to some and jaundiced comments to others.

    But my intervention is this: if the PDP feels jittery that the APC is up to some funny game, will APC too not be justified in its charge that the PDP is up in arms in defence of the CJN because its opponent want to secure electoral victory through the courts—a victory it can’t secure through the ballot box?

    Either point of view being canvassed has made the position of the CJN vulnerable. It is in the interest of the nation for Justice Onnoghen to put on the sterling qualities that earned him the exalted position and ponder whether the current situation has not rendered his continued stay untenable.

    The path of honour is for him to resign and go home, and save his country irreparable harm.

  • Updated: Buhari suspends Onnoghen

    The Federal Government on Friday suspended the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen following the order of Code of Conduct Tribunal of January 23rd.

    To replace him, President Muhammadu Buhari swore in the acting CJN in the person of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed from Bauchi State.

    According to the President, the suspension stands till the conclusion of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed was conveyed to the Presidential Villa at about 4:30pm in a black Mercedes Benz C240 with number plate GWA: 900FA.

    President Buhari, at the short ceremony, said: “A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen from office pending final determination of the cases against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

    “The nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition against him by a Civil Society Organization first became public about a fortnight ago.

    “Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.

    “Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’ and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences in the circumstances of his case.

    “One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it while his trial lasted.

    “Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of the times in which we live.

    “Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one of the organs of justice under his control.

    “There is simply no way the officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.

    “Not only the trial court but others have been put on the spot. Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has witnessed various courts granting orders and counter-orders in favour of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in same.” he said

    He went on: “The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt, that it is the proper interpretation, but is it the right disposition for our nation?

    “Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be seen to be, above the law. Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in the perception of the ordinary man on the street. For it is certain that no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our Judicature.

    “In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has been lost in the squabble over the form and nature of his trial. This should not be so.

    “If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary who act forthrightly, irrespective of who is involved.

    “As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the tripods of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration. Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government. The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.

    “It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate courts.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: Buhari orchestrating destruction of democracy, says Secondus

    “Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to develop and prosper.

    “It is against this background that I have received the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice pending final determination of the cases against him.

    “It also explains why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.

    “In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.

    “Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    “In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC, being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an Acting Capacity.

    “Fellow Nigerians, we can only stand a chance to win the fight against Corruption, and position our dear nation for accelerated development when we stand together to contend against it,” he stated.

  • Breaking: I’ve not resigned, says Onnoghen

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has put a lie to the speculation that he has resigned.

    Justice Onnoghen has scheduled the swearing-in of members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals for January 26 (Saturday).

    The CJN’s spokesman, Awassam Bassey made this public in a brief statement on Friday morning.

    Bassey described as “fake news” the speculation that Justice Onnoghen has resigned.

    He said: “There’s absolutely no truth in the rumours making the round that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has resigned his office. It is fake news!

    Read Also: Onnoghen reaffirms commitment of judiciary to ensure justice, peace

    “The Hon CJN was in the office all through yesterday and sat in court.

    “As part of his duties, the Hon CJN will be swearing in members of the 2019 National Assembly, Governorship & State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals tomorrow (Saturday 26th January 2019).“

  • CJN trial: Court of Appeal orders CCT to stay proceedings

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal ( CCT ) to “stay all proceedings” in relation to the charge pending before it against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    A tree-man panel of the court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, gave the interim restraining order after hearing arguments on a motion by the CJN, seeking to stay further proceedings at the CCT pending the determination of his appeal.

    The appellate court said its order shall be in place until Wednesday when it plans to give ruling on the CJN’s motion.

    Justice Aboki said: “This ruling (on the CJN’s motion that was argued) is adjourned till Wednesday, January 30. The tribunal is ordered to stay all proceedings.”

    While arguing the motion, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led the CJN’s legal team, prayed the court to grant the applicant’s request for a stay in the proceedings before the CCT pending the determination of the appeal.

    The CJN is, by his appeal, challenging the competence of the order made by the CCT on January 14 this year, in which it elected to hear pending applications, which included the application by the CJN, challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction and the application by the prosecution, seeking to compel Onnoghen to step aside pending the conclusion of hearing in the charge filed against him.

    Olanipekun stressed, before the Court of Appeal on Thursday, that the issue involved was jurisdictional, constitutional, and that it also involves the Judiciary.

    He said there was the urgent need for the appellate court to preserve the res (the subject of the dispute).

    Olanipekun further stressed that the situation deserves the intervention of the court.

    He said: “The subject is strong, unique and needs to be preserved.”

    Olanipekun took the court through the history of the case and all that has so far transpired at the tribunal.

    He told the court that the tribunal has refused to obey restraining orders issued against it by four different High Courts.

    Read Also: CCT rejects orders stopping CJN’s trial

    Olanipekun told the court that the tribunal said it was not bound by the fact that the CJN’s appeal was pending before the Court of Appeal and that the appellate court has even fixed a date for hearing.

    He prayed the court to order a stay of proceedings at the CCT “in the interest of the subject matter, the Constitution and the institution of the Judiciary.”

    Olanipekun equally prayed the court for an accelerated hearing of the appeal.

    In his counter-argument, lawyer to the respondent (the Federal Republic of Nigeria), Oyin Koleoso (from the Federal Ministry of Justice) urged the court to dismiss the motion.

    Koleoso argued that the motion by the CJN lacked merit. He noted that even if the appeal by the CJN succeeds, it cannot terminate the case before the tribunal.

    He added: “The grievances that led the appellant to initiate the appeal is no longer there.

    “If their request is granted, how then would their application be taken?”

     

  • CCT rejects CJN’s request for indefinite adjournment

    In a split decision of two members to one, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has rejected the request by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen to adjourn indefinitely.

    The tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar and the third member of the three-member panel, Julie Anabor refused the CJN’s application for indefinite adjournment and said the orders by High Courts were not binding on the CCT.

    The second member, William Agwadza Atedze in a dissenting opinion, agreed with the CJN that the orders by the High Courts and the appeal before the Court of Appeal, it was necessary for the CCT to adjourn indefinitely pending when the issue of jurisdiction was resolved.