Onnoghen: Opposition parties laud Court of Appeal’s verdict

…say it’s victory for democracy, rule of law

Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of
United Political Parties, on Thursday, lauded the Court of Appeal
for restraining the Code of Conduct Tribunal from proceeding with
hearing in the false assets declaration suit filed against the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The first national spokesperson of CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere, made
the position of the opposition parties known in a statement made
available to journalists in Abuja.

Ugochinyere described the verdict as a victory for democracy and
the rule of law.

He said the opposition parties stood for the independence of the
judiciary and would fight to protect such sacred institutions from
being destroyed.

The statement read, “The Coalition of United Political Parties
received with joy the news of the ruling of the three-man panel of
the Court of Appeal which sat in Abuja and restrained the Danladi
Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal from continuing with the trial of
the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending the determination of the main
motion.

“The opposition sees the ruling as victory for democracy and
rule of law and a fatal blow to the All Progressives Congress
political barbarians who are desperate to annex the Supreme Court
to the list of their already destroyed national institutions.

“We advise APC to build a private court for their members as the
Nigerian court cannot be intimidated to submit to the leadership of
the outgoing ruling party.

“The opposition coalition stands for the independence of the
judiciary and will fight with the last drop of its blood to protect
such sacred institutions from being destroyed.”