REVEALED: Dennis Aghanya, author of petition against Onnoghen, is Buhari’s former aide

Dennis Aghanya, the author of the petition against Walter
Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), is President Muhammadu
Buhari’s former media aide.

Aghanya is the executive secretary of the Anti-Corruption and
Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), a civil society group that
petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over alleged
non-declaration of assets by the CJN.

He was Buhari’s aide between 2009 and 2011 and the pioneer
national publicity secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change
(CPC). He is also the founding member of The Buhari Organisation
(TBO).

When the national assembly had a face-off with the president
over the lack of due process on the purchase of $496 million
aircraft from the US, Aghanya appealed to the leadership of the
national assembly to show understanding.

“For anyone to think of impeachment process against him is not
right. We have many problems at hand. Violation of a constitutional
provision is bad but it is worse to act in an immoral manner,”
Aghanya had said.

In his recent petition, Aghanya accused the CJN of maintaining
domiciliary foreign currencies accounts said to be contrary to
relevant laws, especially for public office holders.

The group said its petition became necessary “bearing in mind
the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the overwhelming
roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after”.

TheCable had earlier reported that there were moves to remove
Onnoghen before the elections.

The trial of the CJN before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)
is slated to commence on Monday.