CJN Onnoghen Fights Back, Sues Buhari For Suspending Him

The embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has decided to fight back by suing President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly suspending him illegally.

Onnoghen, according to reports, will file a suit today (Monday) to challenge President Buhari’s decision to suspend him despite an order by the Court of Appeal stopping his removal.

Punch quoted an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as stating that the embattled CJN and his legal team will start the court processes this morning and update the public on the details afterwards.

“We will be going to court to challenge the suspension of the CJN. The President relied on a CCT order despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had restrained all parties from removing the chief justice,” the SAN told Punch.

“The CJN was not even served with the court processes before he was removed by the President. So, all these will be challenged in court. When the processes have been filed, the documents will be made public.”

On why the CJN waited for three days before challenging his removal, the source told Punch, “He was suspended late on Friday and you know courts do not sit on Saturday and Sunday.”

Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council (NJC) is said to have scheduled an emergency meeting for 10 am on Tuesday over Onnoghen’s suspension.

NJC’s spokesperson, Soji Oye, had said of the scheduled meeting: The meeting will hold on Tuesday and notice has been sent to members. I can confirm this to you. It is different from the rumour that was in circulation before that a meeting had been fixed for Monday.”