By KEMI KASUMU
Against the expectation of those who turned the action taken by the Federal Government on Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, to controversies, Nigerians who not only worked hard to install President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 but have also stood with him till present are saying that the President did no wrong against any known law suspending the CJN.
Some of the people speaking against the action particularly lawyers agree that the suspended CJN did wrong but that the process of his removal was wrong.
Question therefore being asked is where did the President go wrong having acted on order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) directing him to appoint an Acting CJN pending the determination of his case before it?
A former vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Monday Onyekachi Ubani in a post on his Facebook wall Monday even claimed “breaking news” that CCT never ordered the President to suspend Onnoghen citing that the order by the Tribunal states that the CJN should step aside and that the President appoint Acting CJN, which is not any departure from what the President did.
But the rage continues despite all the explanations that have been provided. Part of the actions taken by pro-Onnoghen element this rage include the court boycott order by the NBA as directed by its National President Paul Usoro, who himself is undergoing corruption trial in a Nigerian court.
But others people, who are countering the pro-Onnoghen in the controversies, are asking particularly the senior lawyers and other media collaborators that have used editorial pages of their newspapers to attack the President over his action tacking Judiciary corruption in the country, as what they expected the President, whose name will be called should recklessness being displayed by Onnoghen truncated the nation’s democracy.
The DEFENDER gathered that President Buhari provided Onnoghen with ample of time to explain himself over the terrible corruption related allegations which he did not deny, even as he was expected step aside and face his trial pending determination his case but, that apart from him maneuvering the course of justice, the suspended CJN postponed IJC indefinitely, meaning that he is above the law, hence the order by CCT and his suspension subsequently.
The other pro-Onnoghen action came mainly from opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who in the last few weeks have shuttled between the United States and Europe and upon whose side, it is believed, the United States, United Kingdom and European Observer Mission envoys in Nigeria acted in form of what the Nigeria’s Government called coordinated statements without being properly informed of the real truth of issue on ground.
The Federal Government told the international community to respect their promise to ensure credible election process, as friends of Nigeria, and not say things which will make their observer mission suspicious as taking side with opposition in the process, adding that there should no interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
In the meantime, the government through an address by Minister of Information and Culture on Monday, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said no amount of mass protests would change anything in the determination of the President Buhari-led Administration to fight Judiciary corruption in the country.
Reacting to a discourse instituted by Prince Bashir Adefaka on Facebook Tuesday, several citizens home and in the Diaspora made visited the discussion platform to make their contributions voice count.
Abass Adetunji, who contributed the United States of America (USA) said: “Several judges and lawyers have posited that the NJC must open its activities up to the public scrutiny. Even an ex- CJN Musdapher has always insisted the judiciary cannot self regulate. The judgement.of December 2017 which the EFCC appealed is evil, inherently.”
Fowowe Titilopemi, who spoke from Ibadan, Oyo State capital in Nigeria, said: “Here to learn.my stand is there is no way he can sit as judge over his case no matter the gang ups.”
Yusuf U Ajeka, a legal practitioner also in Nigeria, said: “You know my position and VERDICT”, he said.
Ajeka added: “OnorghenGATE is most unfortunate, embarrassing and disgusting but clearly AVOIDABLE. MUHAMMADU BUHARI administration thought Onnoghen was honourable by presenting the criminal infraction before him and magnanimously giving him the option of resignation but he blew the chance at them.
“I am not in government now but I saw it coming and advised him to immediately resign on the 19th of January before the commencement of his disrespectful and avoidable trial by the CCB at the CCT.”
Kunle Durodolu, an interlocutor from Lagos, said: “NJC logically should deal with professional misconduct like every associations I know used to do, if any of their members violate the ethics of the profession NJC should come in to mediate and timely sanction every erring members but where their members brake the law of the land, such a member will be dealt with according to the law of the land. NJC should not create technical immunity for some of their members, it is wrong and unacceptable. The duty is to uphold the law and not to violate it.”
Bhadmus Sulaimon Bolade, from Ota, Ogun State, said: “This my country shaaa! We are so much more of English than the Englishmen themselves. If Professional misconduct can not be translated as a criminal conduct, what can we call a head of an enviable professional that drags the honour and prestige of a professional body in the mud because of greediness,insincerity to the seat of the Lords, and compromise and betrayal of national trust.I think we need a lay man definition to the purpose serve by NJC if it can not handle a criminal case against a chief judge that has create a dent on the image of judiciary!”
To Hakim KolaWole Odeyale, Lagos, “It’s a simple case; do traffic police need to report errand judge to NJC when they flout traffic laws? Do police needs to refer murder case involving a judge to NJC before arraignment in court? These people are trying to create immunity for themselves by using NJC as a cover.”
