Justice Walter Onnoghen. |
Former
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has sued
the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the
suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari
suspended Onnoghen as the CJN on January 25 over allegations of non-declaration
of assets.
But
Agbakoba, in his fresh suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, said
Onnoghen’s suspension by the President was illegal and prayed the court to
overturn it.
The
second defendant in the suit is the National Judicial Council.
In
an affidavit he filed in support of his suit, Agbakoba said, “I know that the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides for the removal
of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and that the Chief Justice of Nigeria can only
be removed based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council or an
address by the President supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.
“I
am fully aware that contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, the
President suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu
Onnoghen, based on an exparte order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal on the
25th of January 2019.
“I
am aware that the National Judicial Council will on February 11, 2019 determine
petitions on the suspension of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, and the swearing-in of Hon. Justice Tanko
Muhammad as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“The
decisions of the NJC are purely administrative. I believe it is in the public
interest for the court to declare the law as relates to the suspension or
removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“I
verily believe that it is in the national interest and constitutionalism and
due administration of justice to grant the reliefs sought on this summons by
the plaintiff.”
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of Precious Eze's Blog or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!