Nigerian lawyers under the aegis
of Coalition Of Lawyers Against Corruption in Nigeria, COLAC, has given President
Muhammadu Buhari seven days to reinstate the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN,
Walter Onnoghen.
The CJN was suspended yesterday
by President Buhari who said that he acted on an order by the Code of Conduct
Tribunal, CCT.
COLAC said by this singular act,
President Buhari has demonstrated that he does not have any regard for the
Supreme law of the land which is the constitution.
In a statement by
Barrister Olusegun Bamgbose, National Coordinator, COLAC, the lawyers said the
President should be reminded that his lack of respect for the rule of law was
capable of truncating our nascent democracy.
The statement added, “The
purported suspension of Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria by President
Buhari, is undoubtedly unconstitutional and unacceptable. It’s a complete show
of shame.
“The reason given by the
President that he was ordered by the CCT to wield the big stick is legally and
morally watery. It’s unreasonable and illogical.
“It has become very obvious that
the President does not have any iota for the Supreme law of the land which is
our Constitution.
“The President has resulted to
self-help in dispensing justice. The President should, however, be reminded
that his lack of respect for the rule of law is capable of truncating our
nascent democracy.
“Judiciary is a noble institution
and we will never for any reason permit anyone to desecrate and decimate it.
The Constitution must be respected at all times.
“The President has really crossed
his boundaries and must be brought to order. His action as President will
certainly overheat the polity.
“We as Lawyers will not allow him
to have his way this time around. We are giving him 7 days to rescind the
decision or we shall do the needful.
“Other things being equal,
Nigeria will be clocking 20 years of practising democracy in Nigeria and any
attempt to subvert democracy will be totally resisted.
“We strongly urge the National
Assembly to timely caution the President because illegality begets illegality.
The time to say no to Mr. President is now.”
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