Paul Usoro, President of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has slammed President Muhammadu’s decision to
suspend Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
In a statement posted on his
Twitter page, Usoro described it as an “attempted coup against the Nigerian
Judiciary”.
He also called on Buhari to reverse
Onnoghen’s suspension and demanded “the National Assembly to assert its
constitutional authority and powers and prevent this slide into chaos and
erosion of the Rule of Law”.
“The new media has been awash
this evening with the news of the purported suspension of the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Honorable Mr. Justice Walter S C Onnoghen, GCON by President Muhammadu
Buhari, GCFR and the swearing in of Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the
acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. We are told that this was pursuant to an
Ex-Parte Order that was issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday, 23
January 2019.
“The Nigerian Bar Association
unequivocally rejects and condemns this attempted coup against the Nigerian
Judiciary and evident suspension of the Nigerian Constitution by the Executive
arm of the Federal Government. The action of the Executive portends a slide
into anarchy and complete deconstruction of the Rule of Law and due process.
“It amounts to an absolute breach
of the Constitution and the usurpation of the powers of the Senate and the
Nigerian Judicial Council.
“It is unfortunate that the
Executive Branch of Government purports to suspend the CJN on the basis of an
alleged ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal – the same Tribunal
that, to the knowledge of the Executive, had, only the previous day, Tuesday,
22 January 2019 adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 28 January 2019 and has
before it a Motion on Notice that is yet to be argued, seeking the same reliefs
as were contained in the purported ex-parte application, to wit, the suspension
of the CJN, amongst others.
“We call on the Federal
Government to avert the looming constitutional crisis precipitated by its
ill-advised action. In particular, the Nigerian Bar Association demands the reversal
of the purported suspension of Honorable Mr. Justice Walter S C Onnoghen, GCON.
“We also call on the National
Assembly to assert its constitutional authority and powers and prevent this
slide into chaos and erosion of the Rule of Law,” Usoro said.
Buhari had on Friday suspended
Onnoghen and immediately appointed Tanko Mohammed as acting CJN.
Explaining his reason, the
President said he suspended Onnoghen, following an order from the Code of
Conduct Tribunal, CCT, asking him to wield the big stick.
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