Buhari is vindicated, says APC | Nairalaw

The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Friday that the
resignation of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Walter Onnoghen has vindicated the action of the President and the
stand of the party who earlier called for his resignation.

Justice Onnoghen’s resignation is coming few hours after the
National Judicial Council reportedly recommended to the President
Muhammadu Buhari to retire him with full benefits.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre
Issa-Onilu told newsmen in his office that the resignation of the
suspended CJN would have been the first step for him to take when
it became obvious that he made a mistake of not properly declaring
his assets as required by law.

He said with the CJN standing trial for none declaration of
assets and the previous trial of the Senate President for the same
purpose, it is gradually becoming clear to public office holders
that there is nobody above the law in the country.

Onilu said a time is coming when a President who misbehaves will
also be docked for wrong doing, stressing that all those who
criticised the President for obeying the ruling of the Code of
Conduct Tribunal will now realise that their action was not in
their interest of the country.

Onilu said: “The issue we have in this country is that, many
people, especially those who have been part of the impunity of the
past are struggling badly to adjust to the reality of rule of law.
That is the major issue we are facing in this country.

“There are so many struggles to allow the past. It is not good
enough for us as a country to allow it go. All of us must rise and
face the future; a future of promise and a future of change, so
that we can move to the ‘Next Level’.

“When this happened, the PDP and some of their allies in the
Civil Societies read the barometer of politics and we do know that,
until we rise above sentiments, no matter what part of the divide
you find yourself, we must realise that this as an issue that has
to do with our country. That is the only way we can progress.

“We knew right from the beginning that what the allegations
against the former Chief Justice of Nigeria were too serious to be
swept under the carpet and we know that the President does not act
on frivolities.

“He must have done his background checks and must have gotten
good information to have taken the action he took especially when
there was basis for the action that can be legally proven.

“Those lawyers, so-called Senior Advocate of Nigeria who had
over the years dip their hands along with some of these judicial
officers into the till of this country, continued to lampoon the
President, lampoon the APC and blaming this government that is
doing its best to right several of the wrongs that we have been
used to.

“We were actually the one trying to deepen democracy and this
party rose in the defense of the President because we understand
what the President was doing and that he meant well, and we know
the real purpose that drives his actions.

“Now, events have proven the President right. Events have proven
the party, APC right. Events have proven those Nigerians who
believe Nigeria first and any other things after – events have
proven them right.

“We all can only be hiding behind one finger, otherwise we knew
Nigerians, reasonable Nigerians knew from the word go that those
allegations were not cooked up and if they were real, the next
thing for the CJN to have done was to have stepped aside. If he had
done that, the question of, he wouldn’t be the only one, why he
should not have arisen? There is nowhere in the world where
judgment is passed on every sinner at once.

“It is not every armed robber you can catch the same day. And
even some you know, the slow pace of justice may not catch up with
them immediately, but we must continue to see evidence that we are
moving towards that sanity and that we are making progressive
efforts and sending strong signals to people who think this country
must continue as long as they are comfortable and the rest of
Nigerians are suffering. We must send that signal to them that it
is not going to be business as usual.

“Now, you have seen the head of National Assembly, Senate
President in the dock. Now, you have seen the CJN in the dock. So,
one day, we will see a President that will also misbehaves, in the
dock which now shows that nobody is above the law and that we are
all equal before the law.

“So, anybody who finds himself in any position should now begin
to look closely at his own actions knowing fully well that today
may protect him but tomorrow may expose him.”

Also reacting to the development, the Buhari Media organisation
the failure of Justice Walter Onnoghen (suspended Chief Justice of
Nigeria, (CJN) to declare his assets and thus breaching the Code of
Conduct expected from Judicial Officers, among several other
malfeasances and breach of the Money Laundering Act, are too grave
to be treated with kids gloves.

In statement signed by Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, its
Coordinator and Secretary respectively, noted that the offences
that are being prosecuted and that have been petitioned against
Justice Walter Onnoghen have tainted the sanctity of the judiciary
and are not matters to be played with or treated with levity.

“Justice Walter Onnoghen is alleged to have out rightly failed
to he Buhari Media organisation said the failure of Justice Walter
Onnoghen (suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN)) to declare his
assets and thus breaching the Code of Conduct expected from
Judicial Officers, among several other malfeasances and breach of
the Money Laundering Act, are too grave to be treated with kids
gloves.

A statement signed by Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, its
Coordinator and Secretary respectively, noted that the offences
that are being prosecuted and that have been petitioned against
Justice Walter Onnoghen have tainted the sanctity of the judiciary
and is not matters to be played with or treated with levity.

“Justice Walter Onnoghen is alleged to have outrightly failed to
declare some of his assets. In fact, he declared only salary
accounts, but failed to declare accounts where he had funds that
were far above his legitimate earnings as a public officer.

“There is also no evidence that he ever declared his assets
since his appointment as a judicial officer from 1989 up until
2016. This is an outright breach of the Code of Conduct for Public
Officers under the 1999 Constitution. And is the least expected
from a man who sat at the pinnacle of Nigeria’s Judiciary, and who
should ordinarily be the one to mete punishments to others who
commit such breaches.

“The ‘Chief Justice of Nigeria’ is also alleged to have had
money that he could not reasonably explain the source, but which
were lodged in various accounts operated by him. He had over 1.7
Million Dollars in his dollar accounts which he conspicuously never
declared.”

According to the group, the receipt by the Justice Onnoghen of
pecuniary gifts from various lawyers who had cases in his court
breached the Rules of Judicial Conduct which outrightly prohibits
Judges from receiving pecuniary gifts from lawyers who had cases
before them.

“Justice Onnoghen received several gifts, ranging from a luxury
car worth 7 Million Naira to a deposit of $30,000 from lawyers who
had cases before him.”

They criticised Justice Onnoghen for maintaining suspicious
relationships with lawyers who had serious cases in his court,
noting that such conducts created perceptions of bias which is
against the Rules of Judicial Conduct.

The group noted that Justice Onnoghen failed to maintain the
minimum standard of decorum expected from Judicial officers, saying
“the many infractions of Justice Walter Onnoghen are so grave, they
have fouled the temple of Justice.

“It is even most unfortunate that this man was sitting in the
highest Judicial office of the land. He has embarrassed the legal
profession and brought shame and disdain to the judiciary.

“We must not treat this matter with kids gloves. We expect the
toughest sanctions to be meted out to him. What Justice Onnoghen
has done does not deserve mercy but serious punitive and corrective
sanctions that must send a clear message to other members of the
Bench, while assuring Nigerians that the Judiciary still remains
the last hope for the common and even uncommon man.”

ISWAP Terrorists Didn’t Kill Soldiers – MNJTF
Spokesperson

The attention of the Multinational Joint Task Force has been
drawn to a story published online, claiming that the break away
faction of Boko Haram Terrorists, otherwise known as Islamic State
West Africa Province (ISWAP) has killed 18 soldiers in a recent
attack within the Area of Operation. The MNJTF wishes to state
categorically that no such attack and loss of service personnel has
taken place within its area of responsibility .

The MNJTF wishes to note that the falsehood being orchestrated
by the media arm of ISWAP is nothing but a desperate attempt to
revamp the parlous and deplorable image of ISWAP following several
weeks of devastating operational losses in the Lake Chad Area.

It has been widely reported and it is now common knowledge that
sustained offensive actions by MNJTF troops and national forces
have resulted in over 200 ISWAP personnel casualties and defections
as well as numerous equipment seizures and destruction. The claim
of killing 18 MNJTF personnel in an unspecified location is
therefore very strange and completely untrue. Consequently, the
general public is advised to disregard the ISWAP falsehood in its
entirety.

Furthermore, the MNJTF also wishes to draw the attention of the
media to the sacred duty it owes the generality of peace loving
citizens of the Lake Chad Basin Countries and therefore urges the
media to remain vigilant in order to frustrate attempts by
terrorists to spread falsehood and propaganda in a bid to disrupt
public order, peace and civility.

Colonel Timothy Antigha
Chief of Military Public Information
MNJTF
N’Djamena – Chad