President Buhari Speaks On Why He Suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen

President Buhari Speaks On Why He Suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen

Earlier today, President Buhari suspended embattled Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen and appointed Justice Tanko Muahammad
as the acting CJN. While swearing in Justice Muhammad, President Buhari
gave reasons for Onnoghen’s suspension. He stated this in his speech
during the swearing-in ceremony. Read the full text below…

A short while ago, I was served with an Order of the Code of Conduct
Tribunal issued on Wednesday 23rd January 2019, directing the suspension
of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel
Onnoghen from office pending final determination of the cases against
him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and several other fora relating to
his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.

2. The nation has been gripped by the tragic realities of no less a
personality than the Chief Justice of Nigeria himself becoming the
accused person in a corruption trial since details of the petition
against him by a Civil Society Organization first became public about a
fortnight ago.

3. Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in
themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other
suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s
personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by
law.

4. Perhaps more worrisome is the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s own
written admission to the charges that he indeed failed to follow the
spirit and letter of the law in declaring his assets, citing ’’mistake’’
and ’’forgetfulness’’ which are totally unknown to our laws as defences
in the circumstances of his case.

5. One expected that with his moral authority so wounded, by these
serious charges of corruption, more so by his own written admission, Mr.
Justice Walter Onnoghen would have acted swiftly to spare our Judicial
Arm further disrepute by removing himself from superintending over it
while his trial lasted.

6. Unfortunately, he has not done so. Instead, the nation has been
treated to the sordid spectacle of a judicial game of wits in which the
Chief Justice of Nigeria and his legal team have made nonsense of the
efforts of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the allegation on merit
and conclude the trial as quickly as possible considering the nature of
the times in which we live.

7. Whether deliberately or inadvertently, we have all seen the full
weight of the Chief Justice of Nigeria descend on the tender head of one
of the organs of justice under his control. There is simply no way the
officers of that court, from the Chairman to the bailiffs, can pretend
to be unaffected by the influence of the leader of the Judiciary.

8. Not only the trial court, but others have been put on the spot.
Practically every other day since his trial commenced, the nation has
witnessed various courts granting orders and counter-orders in favour of
the Chief Justice of Nigeria, all of them characterised by an unholy
alacrity between the time of filing, hearing and delivery of judgment in
same.

9. The real effect has been a stalling of the trial of Justice
Onnoghen, helped along by lawyers who insist that these orders, whether
right or wrong are technically valid, and must be obeyed till an
appellate Court says otherwise. No doubt that it is the proper
interpretation, but is it right disposition for our nation?.

10. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and no one must be, or be
seen to be, above the law. Unfortunately, the drama around the trial of
the Chief Justice of Nigeria has challenged that pillar of justice in
the perception of the ordinary man on the street. For it is certain that
no ordinary Nigerian can get the swift and special treatment Justice
Onnoghen has enjoyed from his subordinates and privies in our
Judicature.

11. In the midst of all these distracting events, the essential
question of whether the accused CJN actually has a case to answer has
been lost in the squabble over the form and nature of his trial. This
should not be so.

12. If Justice cannot be done and clearly seen to be done, society
itself is at risk of the most unimaginable chaos. As a Government, we
cannot stand by wailing and wringing our hands helplessly but give our
full backing and support to those brave elements within the Judiciary
who act forthrightly, irrespective of who is involved.

13. As you are all aware, the fight against corruption is one of the
tripod of policies promised to Nigerians by this administration.
Needless to say that it is an existential Policy which must be given
adequate attention and commitment by all the three arms of government.
The efforts of the Executive will amount to nothing without the
cooperation of the Legislature and especially the Judiciary.

14. It is no secret that this government is dissatisfied with the
alarming rate in which the Supreme Court of Nigeria under the oversight
of Justice Walter Onnoghen has serially set free, persons accused of the
most dire acts of corruption, often on mere technicalities, and after
quite a number of them have been convicted by the trial and appellate
courts.

15. Since there is nothing the Executive Arm can do after the apex
court of the land has spoken on any matter, several of these individuals
walk free among us today, enjoying what are clearly the proceeds of the
corruption which for so long has defeated the efforts of this nation to
develop and prosper.

16. It is against this background that I have received the Order of
the Code of Conduct Tribunal directing me to suspend the Chief Justice
pending final determination of the cases against him. It also explains
why I am not only complying immediately, but with some degree of relief
for the battered sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians whose patience must
have become severely over-taxed by these anomalies.

17. In line with this administration’s avowed respect for the Rule of
Law, I have wholeheartedly obeyed the Order of the Code of Conduct
Tribunal dated 23rd January 2019.

18. Accordingly, I hereby suspend the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter
Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, GCON as the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending
final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal.

19. In further compliance with the same Order of the Code of Conduct
Tribunal, I hereby invite Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed JSC,
being the next most Senior Justice in the Supreme Court, to come
forward to take the Judicial Oath as Chief Justice of Nigeria in an
Acting Capacity.

20. Fellow Nigerians, we can only stand a chance to win the fight
against Corruption, and position our dear nation for accelerated
development when we stand together to contend against it.

Thank you and may God bless our country.