Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen’s effort to contest his unceremonious conviction and removal from office by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is the right thing to do. Nigerians need to know the truth or otherwise of his culpability. We need proper closure on this case and justice for Onnoghen if he was wrongfully removed.
Many Nigerians believe Onnoghen was a victim of the sectional politics and power consolidation drama orchestrated by the Buhari administration. In November 2016, CJN Mahmud Mohammed retired, and Onnoghen was the next in line. He was appointed Acting CJN on November 10, 2016. However, Buhari continued to delay Onnoghen’s confirmation until March 1, 2017 when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as Acting President, confirmed him.
As the 2019 general elections loomed, Buhari wanted Onnoghen out of the way by all means.
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In April 2019, a hastily-convened three-man panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, presided over by Danladi Umar, convicted Onnoghen on a six-count charge of false asset declaration, ordered his removal and banned him from holding public office for ten years. The Tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of the monies the defendant was said to have failed to declare.
Buhari immediately appointed Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, an Islamic Sharia jurist, as Onnoghen’s successor. It was CJN Tanko Mohammed that set up the panel of Justices led by Mohammed Lawal Garba which confirmed Buhari’s election at the Supreme Court.
Onnoghen contested his conviction on the ground that the CCT, a lower court, had no jurisdiction to try a CJN. Onnoghen in his appeal accused the CCT of bias and asked that his sentence be voided and set aside, as he was not given a fair hearing.
We fully support Onnoghen’s effort to clear his name. It is of utmost public interest that this case be subjected to the gamut of judicial appraisal. This should be within the public’s purview because Justice Onnoghen was publicly disgraced and his reputation tarnished.
Once he is able to clear his name, the grounds for justice and rehabilitation would have been established. In the same vein, if the Danladi Umar-led CCT panel betrayed their oath to do justice to whom it is due, they should also be sanctioned under the law.
Settling the matter out of court, as the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, appears to suggest, could short-circuit the course of justice. Onnoghen’s reputation – and that of the judiciary – could still live under the shadow of doubt.
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