CJN Onnghen’s Suspension: Prominent Politicians React

Some prominent Nigerian politicians have reacted swiftly to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhamadu Buhari on Friday.

According to President Buhari, his acted on a directive by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) asking him to suspend Onnoghen pending outcome of investigations in the false assets and non-assets declaration petition filed against the embattled CJN before the CCT.

Below are reactions by some prominent politicians:

– Senator Ben Murray-Bruce –

‘‘The suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari is illegal. Period. Any pretender allowing President Buhari and his cabal to deceive him into believing that he is the new CJN will soon be undeceived. This act of desperation is the cabal’s coup to stop Onnoghen from constituting Election Petition Tribunals. They have seen the handwriting on the wall and it does not look good for them.’’

– Chief Femi Fani-Kayode –

‘‘When I warned my colleagues in the opposition that we were dealing with a fascistic monster in Buhari they did not believe me, they laughed me to scorn and accused me of being an alarmist. Well I doubt they are laughing anymore.

‘‘For a President in a democracy to suspend the CJN is totally unacceptable, a clear breach of the rule of law and the constitution and a manifest violation of the principle of separation of powers. If anyone thinks that we are practising democracy in Nigeria that person needs to have their heads examined.

‘‘The result of the February 16th election has already been determined and Buhari will declare himself President for life.

I call on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House to stop playing games to show courage and to begin impeachment proceedings against Buhari.

‘‘That is the only way to stop this man from totally destroying our country and leading us to a civil war that may never end.’’

– Atiku Abubakar –

‘‘The purported suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari, is an anti democratic act which I reject in its entirely and call on Justice Onnoghen and the judiciary to resist with every legal and constitutional means that they can muster.This brazen dictatorial act is the latest action in the ongoing rape of our nation’s hard earned democracy by those who dined with anti democratic forces, and is symptomatic of the increasing desperation that President Buhari and the cabal pulling the strings have as February 16, 2019 draws near.

‘‘The fact that the unlawful suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was announced just as it became public knowledge that the CJN was constituting the election petition tribunals is not lost on discerning Nigerians and the international community. This act of desperation is geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 Presidential elections. The case involving the legality or otherwise of the charges against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is in court, as it should be. So far, the judiciary has ruled in Justice Onnoghen’s favour. So, why not allow the court to adjudicate on the matter? What is the pressing urgency?’’

– Reno Omokri –

‘‘President Muhammadu Buhari said that he expected Justice Onnoghen to step aside because of the charges. Yet this hypocrisy President DID NOT expect Kano Governor Umar Ganduje to step aside though he was caught on camera collecting bribe. Buhari even praised him after the event

I am not surprised at President Buhari’s suspension of CJN Onnoghen by and his swearing in Tanko Mohammed from Bauchi as the new CJN. It’s no coincidence that the suspension came the day Onnoghen was inaugurating the election tribunal. This is all about 2019!

‘‘I completely and totally reject the suspension of CJN Onnoghen by the cabal. The trumped up corruption charges against Onnoghen are before the courts, who have so far ruled in Onnoghen’s favour. King Lear madness must be resisted by voters on February 16, 2019.’’

– Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim (People’s Trust Presidential Candidate) –

“This is very sad. It is condemnable and must be condemned by all lovers of democracy. It is an ominous return to dictatorship and a complete violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I call on members of the international community to immediately impose sanctions on the members of the executive branch at the Federal Government.

“These sanctions should include revocation of existing travel visas for them and their families and business associates, including targeted asset seizures. I call on the President himself to step down and resign because he is leading Nigeria into chaos and anarchy. We fought so hard to install democracy and we paid dearly for it. We will not allow any group of people, no matter how powerful they think they have become, to take democracy down.

“This is not about politics; it is about democracy, which we fought so hard to put in place in Nigeria. If he refuses to resign, the National Assembly should commence his impeachment immediately.”