“As I have said severally, judicial officers must be courageous. And I want to beg all serving judicial officers not to be discouraged by what happened to me in the hand of the Executive arm of the government. “Emerging brand of Nigerian judges should not go the direction of injustice, because, without courageous judges, Nigeria is doomed”
By Daniel Njienue, News/Comments, March 20, 2021
Barely two years now that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen was gallantly removed and convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT on a 6-count corruption charge by the Federal government of Nigeria, which many political watchers tagged in Buhari’s administration as judicial rascality to ensure that the t 2019 general election tribunal remain in their pocket. However, the removal of the then CJN drew wide condemnations across Nigeria, including the Nigeria Bar Association who described the Federal government’s action as coup against the Judiciary.
CJN OnnoghenMeanwhile, nearly two years of the CJN’s remove, he has not made any public appearance or speak about it publicly until Friday (Yesterday) when he attended a book launch event with his wife. A book written by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Ogwu James Onoja: Titled, Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, Practice, Procedure, Forms and Precedents’
Onnoghen had noted that, he still strongly believe, his removal was political and witch-hunt, citing however, the allegation that he had had a secret meeting with the Presidential Candidate of the People Democratic Party,(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of the country ,in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, prior to the 2019 general elections but stress that, he decided to remain mute since the allegation was unfounded and baseless.
Counting his ordeal, the former CJN stressed he was startled but helpless since the Federal Government had all the structure to investigate the allegation with a view to ascertaining if his rumoured meeting with Atiku to be either true or false, but never did, only to remove him from official with puppet trial and conviction: “I was not shocked when my trial at the CCT was quickly arranged, even when I was not invited for questioning as required by the law, or accused of any wrongdoing.
Continuing the CJN stated further “Prior to my suspension, I was confronted with no allegation. There were rumours that I met with Atiku in Dubai. But as I am talking here today, I have never met Atiku one on one in my life. “As if that was not enough, I was also accused of setting free, some high-profile criminals, whereas I ceased to be a High Court Judge as far back as 1978. “In Supreme Court, I did not sit alone, we sit in panel. In all these rumours and outright accusations, I was not given the opportunity to defend myself. Let me make it clear that the office of the CJN was not for Onnoghen, but for all Nigerians who swore to guide and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic”.
“As I have said severally, judicial officers must be courageous. And I want to beg all serving judicial officers not to be discouraged by what happened to me in the hand of the Executive arm of the government. “Emerging brand of Nigerian judges should not go the direction of injustice, because, without courageous judges, Nigeria is doomed”
“Here, let me sound this note of warning that the appointment of judicial officers must never be allowed to be politicized, otherwise, democracy and democratic governance will be dead. “During my tenure, the problem of Nigeria was not the Nigerian judiciary, but those who had no regard for the rule of law”
“We must therefore be committed to the rule of law and dispense justice without fear or favour. “Truth stands. Crush it, it will still stand because it is truth”, Onnoghen added.
The former CJN also recounted his experience with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, where a Commission of Inquiry was set to investigate him on an alleged wrongdoing but a fair hearing was given to him because Obasanjo listens to advice, and his case was referred to the National Judicial Council, NJC, for review. “At the Council, the truth surfaced and I was found to be innocent of the allegation. Nigerians must stand up for the truth, he stressed.
The book launch witnessed high profile dignitaries which included Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN who was represented by the Attorney-General of the state, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN, Justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, as well as Senior Advocates of Nigeria etc
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