Ipob lambasts NJC for recommending that Onnoghen be retired saying it succumbed to pressure

SECESSIIONIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has lashed out at the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) for recommending that the chief judge of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen proceed on voluntary retirement claiming it did so under pressure.

Last week, President Buhari was advised by the NJC to retire Justice Onnoghen based on findings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Apart from allegations that he failed to declare his assets as prescribed by the law, in the six-count charge, Justice Onnoghen is also accused of operating five foreign bank accounts, contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

According to the EFCC, Justice Onnoghen was in possession of funds which are not attributable to his known, provable and legitimate source of income. Apart from accusing him of opening of a dollar account at Standard Chartered Bank with $30,000 the EFCC accused Justice Onnoghen of being unable to account for curious deposits in his accounts, which had accumulated to $1,716,000.

 Following the publication of the recommendation, Justice Onnoghen decided to quit, handing in his letter o retirement to President Buhari. It is not yet clear if President Buhari will accept the retirement or will insist that Justice Onnoghen must be sacked.

Responding to the development, Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, alleged that the NJC goofed by finding Justice Onnoghen guilty when no competent court of law had tried him.  Ipob alleged that NJC’s retirement recommendation was done out of fear and a lack of courage to tell President Buhari what is the true position of the constitution and the law.

Mr Powerful said: “It is most unfortunate that the so-called NJC is a confused bunch which does not know its constitution or out of fear, has refused to insist that the government be held accountable to its dictates. Which section in the constitution empowers the cabal led by the president to suspend the former CJN without any court conviction or recommendation of the NJC?

“Again where in the constitution did Aso Rock derive the power to dismiss or suspend the chief justice of Nigeria? The NJC should bury its head in shame, especially when it is the body looked upon to organise the judiciary and discipline the legal practitioners, so shame on the NJC for this unpardonable and avoidable blunder it committed."

According to the NJC, Justice Onnoghen had lost the morality of authority to continue as the chief justice of Nigeria over the litany of allegations bordering on misconduct. However, according to Ipob, mere allegations and accusations are not a confirmation of guilt or misconduct.

"Who determined that he has lost the moral authority? Is it a properly constituted court of law or the cabal in Aso Rock running Nigeria that wants their own to take over the reins of the judiciary the same way they succeeded in taking over every other sphere of authority and governance in Nigeria?

“Why did NJC not wait in passing their guilty verdict to allow the CJN to be convicted of any of the alleged crimes? It is a shame on NJC members that with mere allegations, they have padded the judgement of guilt on their fellow judge and a respectable one for that matter. We will not be surprised to find out that the members of the NJC that passed that verdict may have been compromised by the people they are working for and now, the judiciary has ceased to be the last hope of the common man, which it is unfortunate,” Mr Powerful added.