Edwin Clark discusses the controversial removal of former Chief Justice Onnoghen by Buhari and its implications.
Elder statesman and Ijaw nation leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of mistreating and degrading former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Clark contended that Buhari’s removal of Onnoghen was a tactic to evade accountability for actions taken during the 2019 presidential election.
In a letter to the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Clark praised the recent Court of Appeal ruling that acquitted Onnoghen of all charges related to false asset declaration, which stemmed from a settlement with the Federal Government.
He criticized Buhari’s suspension of Onnoghen, emphasizing that the authority to appoint or suspend a Chief Justice lies with the President, the National Judicial Council, and the National Assembly.
Clark remarked that Justice Onnoghen’s case exemplifies a long-awaited justice, asserting that no individual, including the President, is above the law, and urged the current administration not to protect anyone from accountability.
I am pleased to learn that both the judiciary, especially the Court of Appeal, and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, have reached a resolution.
I extend my sincere congratulations to him for overcoming the challenges he faced under the previous administration, and I pray for his continued strength to advocate for his rights, as Nigeria is a nation for all its citizens, who are equal in status, Clark stated.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to former President Buhari, refrained from commenting on the matter.
Nevertheless, an anonymous official from the previous administration indicated that the Buhari government’s decision to suspend Onnoghen was warranted under existing laws.
The official explained that the charges against Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal pertained to his failure to declare assets, which constitutes a violation of the law.
They noted that Onnoghen had only declared his assets twice, upon his appointments as acting CJN and CJN, and admitted to not declaring them during his tenure as a high court judge or in higher judicial positions.
The official argued that this admission was sufficient grounds for his dismissal, and if the current government chooses to overlook these offenses, it is ultimately a political decision.
Peoplesmind
