JUST IN: I feel very sad, says Osinbajo on Onnoghen trial

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reacted to the prosecution of
the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, noting
that he is sad about the situation.

He also said President Muhammadu Buhari did not know about the
plan to arraign the CJN until Saturday evening. He added that the
President had always made clear that institutions should not be
interfered with.

Osinbanjo said this on Wednesday at the opening of the Online
Publishers Conference in Abuja, adding that he is sad about the
turn of events and regrets the current situation where a senior
member of his profession is subjected to such judicial process.

“I feel very sad that is going on at all.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, his whole approach is that
institutions should just do their work. I can tell by fact that he
did not know about this until Saturday evening.

“He did not know that there will be any kind of arraignment till
Saturday evening. He has said categorically don’t interfere with
what the institutions are doing. Sometimes it has consequences like
we have today.

“My take is that I rather not have a situation where members of
a profession are being tried for an offence. I don’t feel good
about it, as a matter of fact, I feel very sad about it, that is
going on at all.”

The CJN is accused of false assets declaration. A petition was
written against him by Dennis Aghanya, a former aide of Buhari.

He was to be arraigned on Monday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal
(CCT) but he was absent when the sitting began. A high court has
stopped the proceedings from going on.

Osinbajo said he is sad about the development.