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Onnoghen: Buhari’s Coup against the Judiciary… …The Sack of a Man that was Never Wanted…

Published

5 years ago

January 26, 2019

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

No one would be wrong if he says that the timing of the removal of the Chief Judge of Nigeria, Mr. Walter Nkanu Onnoghen was well planned and cunningly executed. This is because the unpopular decision came barely hours after the National Assembly declared a recess to enable its members concentrate on the campaigns for the February 16 General Elections. The Federal Government has chosen the time to strike knowing the recovery will be slow and agonizing.

Consequently, the furore that has gathered and still gathering over the unceremonious removal may take a longer time to settle, and that is if it ever settles at all.

President Muhammadu Buhari has shocked the nation on Friday when he presented a 20 point text detailing the offences that would warrant the immediate removal of the embattled CJN, who has since Friday January 11, 2019 become endangered specie to the government of the day. His offence: failure to declare personal assets.

The CJN was accused of maintaining domiciliary account with an unnamed bank comprising of different foreign currencies.

He was therefore made to face a six-count charge bordering on wrongful declaration of assets and possession of bank accounts in foreign currencies, which contravened the code of conduct for public office holders.

But the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) among other legal entities and the Nigerian public rose in defence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, stating that the embattled judge “acted rightly in not appearing before the CCT on the day so summoned”.

The body expressed concern that the issue of wrong declaration of assets faced by the CJN has been politicised, hence preventing “an objective discussion of the relevant issues calling for determination”.

The trial which kicked off on Monday, January 14, has gone back and forth with nothing concrete to show for it. As the CCT continually issued threats, the defence team of the CJN also received restraining orders. Obviously, the case was heading to nowhere, and the Federal Government was sure that whatever achievement they had intended would come to, and so the ‘unconstitutional’ sacking and immediate replacement.

By the action, President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extention the Federal may have contravened a court order restraining the President, the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Attorney-General of the Federation from removing Onnoghen,

According to reports, Justice I. E Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on restrained all parties from suspending or removing the CJN.

The order was sequel to a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party with number FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2019.

The judge granted, “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1^st (President), 2^nd (AGF) 4^th (Justice Ibrahim Mohammed), 5th (CCB) and 6^th (CCT) whether by themselves, officers, agents, servants, privies or otherwise, however, described from removing the 3rd defendant (Onnoghen) as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

Buhari, however, went ahead to suspend the CJN, relying on an order of the CCT.

Buhari’s action, the excuses he proffered in his speech notwithstanding, seem to many observers as premeditated, considering the fact that he never wanted to confirm him as the substantive CJN as at the time he was due.

Onnoghen was finally sworn in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Buhari on Thursday, November 10, 2016 after the intervention of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo while the president was away.

While many has condemned the act as witch hunt, it is imperative to recall Constitutional lawyer, Sebastine Hon’s (SAN) assertion as the arraignment first hit the media space

He said: “While I know that the Chief Justice of Nigeria does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution, I see this move by the Federal Government as dangerously political and tendentious.”

“Suddenly, we woke to see a petition leaked to the informal or social media, allegedly received by the Code of Conduct on 9th January, 2019.

“Suddenly, we are told charges have been filed against the CJN. Suddenly the Presidency is reportedly asking him to step aside! Was he interrogated or interviewed and his own reactions obtained?”

In the same vein, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Coalition of Political Parties (CUPP) and other top politicians in separate statements alleged that the charges against Onnoghen “is a move by the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government to rig the 2019 general elections”.

With the reaction of many Nigerians from all strata of existence, it seems that Buhari has finally bitten more than he can chew. The days ahead will unravel quite a great number of cans of worms.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of the president, is however, rooting for him and applauding his guts in sacking the CJN.

Headline

Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

Headline

Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

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Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”