CJN SUSPENSION: We Reject The Coup Against The Nigerian Judiciary –NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN

* Urges NASS To Wade Into CJN Suspension To Prevent Erosion
Of Rule Of Law

The President Of The Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN
Has Described The Suspension Of The Chief Justice Of Nigeria,
Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen As A Coup Against The Nigerian
Judiciary.

In A Press Statement Released On The 25th Day Of January, 2019
And Sighted By TNL, The NBA President Rejected The Act Of The
President Of Nigeria, Claiming The Action Of The President On A
Purported Order By The CCT Is Not Right In Law, As The Tribunal Has
Earlier Adjourned The Matter Pending The Determination Of The
Motion On Notice Before It.

According To The NBA President, He Wondered How The Tribunal
Would Grant The Orders When They Are Same With The Ones In The
Substantive Suit.

Below reads the full press
statement

25 January 2019
COUP AGAINST THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY AND SUSPENSION OF THE NIGERIAN
CONSTITUTION

1. The news media has been awash this evening with the news
of the purported suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Honorable Mr. Justice Walter S C Onnoghen, GCON by President
Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the swearing in of Hon Justice Ibrahim
Tanko Mohammed as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. We are told
that this was pursuant to an Ex-Parte Order that was issued by the
Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday, 23 January 2019.

2. The Nigerian Bar Association unequivocally rejects and
condemns this attempted coup against the Nigerian Judiciary and
evident suspension of the Nigerian Constitution by the Executive
arm of the Federal Government. The action of the Executive portends
a slide into anarchy and complete deconstruction of the Rule of Law
and due process. It amounts to an absolute breach of the
Constitution and the usurpation of the powers of the Senate and the
Nigerian Judicial Council.

3. It is unfortunate that the Executive Branch of Government
purports to suspend the CJN on the basis of an alleged ex-parte
order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal – the same Tribunal that, to
the knowledge of the Executive, had, only the previous day,
Tuesday, 22 January 2019 adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 28
January 2019 and has before it a Motion on Notice that is yet to be
argued, seeking the same reliefs as were contained in the purported
ex-parte application, to wit, the suspension of the CJN, amongst
others.

4. We call on the Federal Government to avert the looming
constitutional crisis precipitated by its ill-advised action. In
particular, the Nigerian Bar Association
demands the reversal of the purported suspension of Honorable
Mr. Justice Walter S C Onnoghen, GCON. We also call on the National
Assembly to assert its
constitutional authority and powers and prevent this slide into
chaos and erosion of the Rule of Law.

Paul Usoro, SAN
President