Still on the Onnoghen’s matter

Still on the Onnoghen’s matter

By  Kabir O. Abdulsalam

So it happened, the helluva of democracy to dock the first man;
among the hallowed doctrine of separation of power. The suspend
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen heading one of
Tripartite independent organ that form our democracy. President
Mohammadu Buhari acted on the speed weakness of the judicial
system, throwing tyranny of weak institution. Jokingly, it shocked
some us when the nation woke up to realized that due process was
not abide to remove  NJC, thereby endangering democracy,
underpinning this noble system of governance. this was never
thought for the country as before a major election.

Onnoghen was charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)
by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Monday over allegations of
false declaration of assets on a six-count charge. Aside allegation
that he failed to disclose his assets as prescribed by law,
Government equally accused the CJN of operating foreign bank
accounts. About six foreign bank accounts bearing suspicious funds
have been traced to Onnoghen, thus, cleared the pay grade of his
position.

USD account- $1,922,657.00, Pounds account — £138, 439.00, Euro
account — €55,154.00, Naira account — N91, 962.362.49.

Haba! A custodian of law, citing ‘forgetfulness’ of these monies
which can bear a budget of some sovereign state in African
Continent. Yes, it may sound unfamiliar, but I same it when Buhari
swore about not knowing of initial arraignment, actually, He
chooses little in what he ought to know.

Shortly after the arraignment, Buhari on Friday announced the
suspension, Walter Onnoghen, hiding an order from  (CCT) to
clearly went beyond his tenet to suspend CJN and  announced
the appointment of the next most senior judge at the Supreme Court,
Tanko Mohammed, as the new acting CJN. This give Nigerians the body
posture of Buhari’s actionable faux pas for Tanko giving APC’s
bidding after the vote, have put forward a valid argument. Fallacy,
I don’t know how many court cases Buhari had respected.

The case of Onnoghen’s removal or naturally ( suspend according
to Presidency) was facilitated by A civil society group,
Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI),
submitted a petition on January 7, 2019 to  CCB, alleging a
number of infractions committed by Onnoghen. The petition was
received by CCB on January 9, 2019. The charge sheet filed by CCB
before CCT was January 10, 2019. Hmmm what a efficacy country
Nigeria- if public servant can fasten their job like this, the
country would be better off Canada that was reputed as the world’s
most efficient efficiency.

In other clime, in US, the remarkable is the scenario of Justice
Samuel Chase, who was impeached by the House in 1804, but easily
acquitted by the Senate.  It was narrated that Chase act more
as a prosecutor than a judge in some cases.  He took no
pretense of giving Democrat-Republicans a fair shake.. 
Article II, Sect. IV of the United States Constitution. “The
President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United
States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and
Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
Misdemeanors.”

In Nigeria, Section 292 of the Nigerian constitution spelt it
out for  the removal of some public officials including the
CJN. The section does not distinct  either suspension or 
sack- a sitting CJN can only be removed from office by the
president after at least two-thirds majority members of the Senate
support such a move. No such matter has been debated in the
Senate.

What a forgetful justice, as Onnoghen had the financial capacity
to hire 150 most senior lawyers to defend him with other numerous
lawyer in the court.  Some of his supporters, claiming
protecting the Constitution and democracy, yet, the conundrum had
left the man to prove his innocence in the court law.

Not surprisingly, there have been several instances of justice
giving it to the highest bidder of case. Lawyers, judges
induced with bribes, and judiciary has ultimately
be way to make it and join the billionaire club- stuffed
their mouth  with hard currencies to swing judgment. Dare
Babarinsa a Columnist in Guardian Newspaper, narrated how past
judges live a modest live even after retirement. He recounted a
story of Justice Taslim Elias or Justice Chukwudifu Oputa
would be put on trial for alleged stealing? Today, top officials of
government, the judiciary or the legislator accused of stealing,
instead of issuing a public statement to deny the allegation and
defend their integrity in the court of public opinion, would rather
hire an army of lawyers to defend their alleged infractions.

By the way, What is good for goose is as good for the gander,
not  Buhari  should  be crucified of  wrongful
action, Onnoghen corruption also must be condemn- it is case of two
wrongs. Onnoghen was wrong not to have declared his assets as chief
law officer of the federation he should lead by specimen to the
judiciary. The truth must be told, if only Nigerians can do, with
that swanky allegation, Onnoghen ought have bow out of his office
and face trail squarely without interference. Buhari had made
Onnoghen’s sympathizer much more focus on paddling way for next
election hostile to corruption fight which notwithstanding can
hamper on his re-election bid.

Needless to say, no administration has done enough to fight
corruption even as the self-acclaim of this government. Much We all
have a duty to ensure cleanse way  on corruption- so it does
not find a comfortable home in Nigeria. Nigerians should not be
suffocated with media hype of this administration over fighting
corruption, Senator Sheu Sani had blast Buhari over using
deodorant to fight corruption within his Cabinet against others
with insecticides. The recent report of Transparency International
Index shows the stance corruption battle of Buhari corruption
handler had undermine Nigerian democracy and governance, however,
the authorities need to understand that these acts deepen a sense
of state of despair  among well-intend Nigerians which can
affect his  moral Integrity coming election.

Kabir, wrote from Abuja