Reactions have started trailing President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday.
Buhari, who based his action on an order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), had consequently appointed the most senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria after Onnoghen and who had been rumoured as the possible replacement of the embattled CJN if alleged plots to remove him scale through.
The newly sworn in CJN is Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed.
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As expected, Nigerians have taken to micro-blogging website, Twitter, to express varied opinions to the news.
Below are some of the reactions:
I am not surprised about President Buhari 's suspension of the CJN Onnoghen. I am more surprised that Hon. Justice Tanko presented himself to be unlawfully sworn in as CJN. Democracy may be finally dead in Nigeria.
— Akanimo Ukpe, Esq. LLM. (@akviktor) January 25, 2019
Chief Justice of Nigeria Onnoghen was going to inaugurate election tribunal on Sat 26th Jan 2019 and Buhari pre-empted him by suspending him on 25th based on order of CCT which is alien to our constitution. Senate majority and NJC is needed to effect the suspension. Power play!
— ThankGod Ukachukwu (@kcnaija) January 25, 2019
Billionaire Justice suspended!
President @MBuhari suspends the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen and appoints Mr. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed as acting CJN.
— Okokobioko Master (@comradop) January 25, 2019
To be honest, this Chief Justice Onnoghen move seems more like an Osibajo move than a Buhari move.
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Buhari that doesn't know the difference between Senatorial and Gubernatorial positions can pull this off.
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??…Canada open thy doors..— The Kingmaker? (@SmithVinci) January 25, 2019
Without the recommendation of the NJC & two-third majority of the Senate as required by law,
President Buhari suspends Justice Walter Onnoghen as CJN, swears in Tanko Mohammed as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Q: How will this shape the outcome of the forthcoming elections? pic.twitter.com/tljDU0ZtyI
— Port-Harcourt People (@AskPHPeople) January 25, 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari Suspended the CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
I love this suspension, because GEJ started the experiment with former CBN Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, now Emir of Kano.— Prince Oyeyemi (@Prince_4777) January 25, 2019
This is ultravires , @MBuhari has no constitutional power to suspend Chief Justin of Nigeria. This is unacceptable, an aberration and alien to a democratic system. Mohammed Buhari from Daura has just suspended Nigeria constitution for his own interest.
— Usman Okai Austin (@PDPNYF) January 25, 2019
Shocking : Buhari said he received a directive from the Code of Conduct CCT Tribunal to suspend Walter Onnoghen . CCT now regulates Judiciary in Nigeria.
— Usman Okai Austin (@PDPNYF) January 25, 2019
Your Comment
Nigeria politics is becoming interesting.
Hmm that’s serious, it’s not surprising anyway cos APC government has already scrap out democracy in Nigeria.
Tyrant old deaf, anyway am not surprised,i blame those that voted him mostly those from the south, I hope they will vote him again …ndi ala … Change your head there.
Your Comment
sentiment apart,where does the so call cjn onnoghen get the millions he claimed to hav forgotten to declare in his account?and also the accused admitted that he forgot to declare the so called amount in his account,why a cjn of a country will forget such if not for ulterior purpose and cover up
I can see that this is the way president buhari is trying to make way for him self for 2019 election, forgotten that changing the CJN will not help in anyway