Coalition of Lawyers Against Corruption in Nigeria gives Buhari seven days to reverse CJN's suspension

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been given seven days by the Coalition of Lawyers Against Corruption in Nigeria (Colac) to reverse the suspension of the chief justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen or face legal action.

Yesterday, President Buhari suspended the embattled Justice Onnoghen and replaced him with Justice Tanko Mohammed, who was sworn-in as the acting chief judge of Nigeria by the president. Over the last few weeks, Justice Onnoghen has been involved in intense political jockeying with the government that involved him being charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Justice Onnoghen challenged the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him and filed a motion to that effect, with several other legal suits on the matter also pending. There has also been a huge outcry over the president's actions, with civil society groups and politicians describing it as an attack on the judiciary in the run-up to next month's elections.

Adding its voice to the condemnation, 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. Colac's national coordinator Olusegun Bamgbose, said the president should be reminded that his lack of respect for the rule of law was capable of truncating Nigeria's nascent democracy.

Mr Bamgbose 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 but 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 and the constitution must be respected at all times.

“The president has really crossed his boundaries and must be brought to order as his action as president will certainly overheat the polity. We as lawyers will not allow him to have his way this time around, so we are giving him seven days to rescind the decision or we shall do the needful.

“Other things being equal, Nigeria will be clocking 20 years of practising democracy 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 and the time to say no to Mr President is now.”