- Peter Obi has spoken on the six-count charges preferred against Walter Onnoghen by the federal government
- Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, has been accused of failing to declare some of his assets while declaring them at the Code of Conduct Bureau
- Obi, the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, said Nigerian judiciary remains the best of the three arms of government under the present dispensation
Peter Obi, the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, January 14, decried the intimidation of the judiciary in the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Obi made this known while reacting to the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on allegations bordering on assets declaration, Vanguard reports.
He said the law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, including members of the judiciary accept the fact that nobody is above the law adding that the process of legal restitution for alleged infractions of the laws of the land must be above board.
READ ALSO: We are monitoring NASS, FG over implementation of N30,000 minimum wage - NLC
According to him, “Confirmed indications reveal that due process was not followed in the case of CJN. For instance, what should be done first in such a case is to write formally to the National Judicial Council, NJC, but that was not done.
“In my view, the Nigerian judiciary remains the best of the three arms of government under the present dispensation. Indeed, it has done tremendously well and I am a celebrated beneficiary of our judicial system.
“It was through the courts that I secured my electoral mandate and also served my full term. It was also due process that reversed my illegal impeachment. Interestingly, a number of other public office holders, including the incumbent chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, benefited from that courageous precedent set by the Judiciary.
READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
“One begins to wonder whether the handlers of the present regime are unmindful of the extant law that requires the NJC to first investigate judicial officers and if found culpable, recommend disciplinary measures to the legislature before any arraignment if necessary.
“It is also revealing that this scenario is not novel in today’s Nigeria. It is the same CJN that was also subjected to all manner of traumatic experience before his emergence as head of the Nigerian Judiciary.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the national industrial court in Abuja gave an order restraining Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, from arresting Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria, over charges filed against him by the federal government.
The court also restrained the CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, and the Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami from proceeding with the hearing, pending the determination of the substantive application before the court which will be heard on January 21.
The court statement released on Monday, January 14 indicated that the application included seven defendants, namely: Messrs, Malami, Umar, Idris, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, CCT, CCB and National Judicial Council.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.
South-South governors condemn trial of CJN Onnoghen | Legit TV:
Source: Legit.ng
from Nigeria News today & Breaking Naija news ▷ Read on LEGIT.NG 24/7 http://bit.ly/2TOcI5b
via EDUPEDIA24/7
Comments
Post a Comment