Junior Lawyers in Nigeria have been advised to speak out in the wake of what has generally been described as lack of patrioticism among senior lawyers in effort to cleanse the nation’s legal system of corruption.
This charge came from former Director General of PRODA, a parastatal of Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Engr. Edmund Kaine, just as an alleged conspiracy of media, lawyers and their collaborators from the from land thickens.
Engr. Kaine stated this Monday morning as a comment to a post by Prince Bashir Adefaka on Facebook, which said, “All of you Lawyers head bent against FG on Onnoghen, may I remind you how Justice Sowemimo (on UPN/NPN case) ENDED in life?”
He said: “Junior lawyers should be encouraged to speak out now. They are the ones most disadvantaged by the corrupt legal system.”
Engr. Kaine said: “Brilliant juniors don’t stand a chance against those that can influence the judges and senior lawyers. The clients all know that too.”
Among lawyers who have been against the Federal Government on the suspension of CJN Walter Onnoghen is Barrister Monday Ubani, who posted on his Facebook wall Sunday morning what he screamed out as “BREAKING NEWS! CCT NEVER ORDERED THE PRESIDENT TO SUSPEND CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA!”
In explaining, the lawyer said: “Justice Danladi Umar never
authorized the President of the country to suspend
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Walter Onnoghen in the so called Ex Parte
Order as claimed by the President.
“A perusal of the two orders as sighted by myself
few hours ago showed that the first order to wit: Directed the CJN to step
aside pending the conclusion of his matter before the Tribunal while the second
order to wit: Ordered or directed the President (Muhammadu Buhari) to appoint
the most senior Justice in the Supreme Court after the CJN to take over as the
Acting CJN pending the determination of the case before the Tribunal,” which
another opinion on the same post said does not bring any difference from what
the President has done.
The issue with the lawyer’s post self carved “breaking news” is in the questions he used to follow the post.
He asked:
1. Where is the order to suspend embedded in this exparte order upon which our
dear President acted upon?
2. Can the President suspend a public officer purporting to act upon a court
order when no such court order ever exists?
3. Can the President appoint another Justice of the Supreme Court in an acting
capacity when the first order has not been complied with to wit: the CJN
stepping aside?
4. Was this exparte order ever served on the CJN who the order directed should
step aside?
5. If the ex Parte order was not served on the CJN who it directed to step
aside, can the president validly then remove him based on the same order that
was never served on him?
6. Why was this said order served only on the president who apparently was not
a party in the suit but who was expected to carry out the second order to wit:
appoint a replacement, when the person that was supposed to step aside for the
subsequent order to come into effect was not served?
7. Has the government not shot itself terribly on the legs by this glaring
irregularity that has occurred in EVERYTHING that has to do with this trial of
the CJN before the Code of Conduct Tribunal? BY Monday O.Ubani Esq Legal
Practitioner”.
Contributing from the United States of America rubbishing the collaborative efforts of the layers, some journalists and some foreign conspirators against President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for going hard on this issue of “suspended corrupt CJN”, Abdulhakeem Abdullateef said: “There are so many people who will regret their actions and statements in Nigeria. Nigeria has large no. of hypocrites and corrupt people. Someone is being accused of corruption with evidence, he is in charge of the legal system, and you think he can be removed easily without bending the rules one way or the other. How naive is that? Which one is the greater evil – bending the rules or weeding out corrupt head of the legal system?”
In his own statement as picked from his wall, Barrister Yusuf U Ajeka said to Barrister Ubani: “Ubani Monday Onyekachi arrange a session for me to CROSS EXAMINE chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for 4 mins.”
In responding to Barriser Ajeka’s request, Ubani simply replied by asking “Ubani Monday Onyekachi WHAT IS REALLY THE OFFENSE OF HON JUSTICE WALTER ONNOGHEN?”
But in his swift reaction to the unanswering of his question, Yusuf U Ajeka simply reacted to the non-answer: “He is guilty as charged.” He then quoted: “Forgetfulness is not a defence in Law” – Professor Akin Oyebode; “Onorghen shot himself in the foot by not resigning” – Femi Falana.”
Ajeka continued by posing five questions again to Ubani: “5 simple questions for you sir. Did former CJN Onorghen Commit any crime? Did he admit his guilt in his response to the charges by the CCT? Does the CCT have the power to try him on issues of CODE OF CONDUCT according to his own legal precedent? Did he legally or legitimately acquire those stupendous amounts in dollars and Naira? Does the President and Commander In Chief have the Power and authority to nominate/recommend his appointment and equally the power and authority to SUSPEND him pending the final decision of the NJC or the Senate?”These questions were yet to be responded to as Ubani threw back another question: “Did you read this latest article of mine at all?”
In reply to an earlier defence of the suspended CJN, Prince Bashir Adefaka put some questions to the lawyer which he didn’t respond to.
He said: “Barrister, Good morning Sir. I have
difficulty going through all of the post because I just woke up and need to go
and pray. I looked in because of respect I have for you.
“Could you kindly tell us that you do not agree with all the
issues raised in that address of the President suspending Onnoghen?
“You are talking about all parties must take part. What do you
say about Onnoghen, relying on influence he has on judges under him (all
courts), arrogantly shunning appearance in court CCT?
“Recall first he asked that summons be served on his PS on his
behalf only for him to send his over 50 SANs to lie that he was not properly
served. How do you handle this in law?
“Two, recall also that Onnoghen again shunned CCT the date of
sitting and didn’t give reason prior or after.
“Lastly for now Sir, does it not bother you that people crying
over this matter are people who are either undergoing corruption trials in
courts or desperate opposition politicians?
“I think these issues raised deserve an address.”
Edmund Kaine speaks
“Brilliant juniors don’t stand a chance against those that can influence the judges and senior lawyers. The clients all know that too.”
