CJN: BMO seeks removal of NBA president from NJC

The Buhari Media Organisation has asked the Nigerian Bar
Association’s President, Paul Usoro (SAN) to resign his membership
of the National Judicial Council.

The organisation said the call by NBA for lawyers to boycott
courts over the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter
Onnoghen, showed that Usoro lacked an understanding of basic
principles of the rule of law.

BMO made the call following the ruling of the Court of Appeal
that refused to stop hearing of the case of false assets
declaration filed against Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju
and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, said the ruling was a vindication
of President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of the CJN.

The NBA and opposition political parties had condemned the
action of the president for swearing in Justice Tanko Muhammad as
Acting CJN.

BMO said, “That the ruling by the Appeal Court re-affirmed the
fact that Justice Onnoghen has a serious matter to answer to, and
that the Tribunal has the powers to entertain that matter rightly,
and as such also has the power to make an order for his suspension
pending the conclusion of the matter.
“The call by Paul Usoro (SAN), that the courts be boycotted showed
that the man who heads the NBA lacks an understanding of basic
principles of the rule of law and does not appreciate the issue of
jurisdiction of courts to matters.

“We also commend the various NBA branches that did not heed the
senseless call for a boycott but went ahead to attend court
sessions and honor their clients and the temple of justice.

“This also shows that Paul Usoro has lost his credibility in the
NBA due to his proclivity to defend corruption and stand for what
is wrong – a characteristic that should not be synonymous with the
Nigerian Bar Association.”

The BMO added that a man who is facing serious allegations of
corruption with the EFCC should not be found deciding the fate of
people with similar moral burdens.

“This should not be so as the association is made up of
thousands of members with honor and integrity who should not be
identified with corruption.

“Paul Usoro, a man facing serious allegations of corruption in
the court is now using the Nigerian Bar Association to fight the
institutions constitutionally mandated to fight corruption,
including the courts.

“His kangaroo instruction to legal practitioners to boycott the
courts was not just embarrassing and unfortunate; it was a mockery
and an insult to the legal profession. Asides the fact that lawyers
owe it as a duty to represent their clients in courts, they are not
meant to insult their practice and the temples of justice by
boycotting the courts.”

Patience Jonathan Forfeits N1bn by Court
Order

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured
an interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion,
Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira) only lodged in three
deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May, 2015.

The forfeiture order by Federal High Court sitting in Kano and
presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a
motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim
forfeiture of the money, which was found in the Bank account of
Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady of
Nigeria, Patience Jonathan.

The Commission had gotten an intel that a bank account domiciled
in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used
by anybody.

Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by
conducting preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience
and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan were
directors of the Company. Others named as directors are Oba Oba
Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai
and Esther Fynface.

In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered
that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface,
who is alleged to be in charge of the Company, while N1 billion
(One Billion Naira Only) was transferred in two tranches on the
25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT OIL AND GAS NIGERIA LIMITED a company
that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs
Commission.

Ruling on the motion, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An
interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in
the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety
Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent
Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd
respondent Fidelity Bank Plc”.

The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in
the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity