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CURRENT ISSUES: Onnoghen’s resignation, belated –  YLF chair 

 

The Chairman of the Young Lawyers’ Forum (YLF), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Barr. Olayinka Dauda Jimoh, in this interview with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI, speaks on the resignation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen, the rationale behind Federal Government’s idea to borrow money in order to fund some capital projects, among other issues. Excerpts: 

What is your take on the resignation of the CJN? 
As far as the matter of the former CJN is concerned, the only option available for him is to resign. Though,  his resignation did not come at the right time; he ought to have resigned before now. Probably, the CJN felt the resolution of the NJC will go in his favour but it went otherwise, the only step he could take to help the situation, is for him to resign. It is a reasonable decision he has taken. It goes a long way to speak of his integrity and credibility. Once one is being alleged to have committed  such an offence, the best option from such public officer is to tender resignation letter. However, I don’t subscribe to the argument that CJN was wrongly advised, those advising him acted brilliantly.
What about the argument that the resignation was wrong since court has not pronounced him guilty?
If he did not resign, there is no how he wouldn’t have tampered with the NJC’s recommendation, he was  chairman of the  commission before. We are all aware of how the former CJN postponed indefinitely, the meeting of NJC having known that the meeting couldn’t take place without deliberating on his removal. If he is later exonerated of the pletoria of cases against him, then, it will become glaring that the former CJN is a corruption free person, but it goes beyond that, the public wants to see that the law takes it full  course accordingly.  In the case of the CJN, as the head of the judiciary, who will interprete the law,  staying in office will not make the law to work.
Despite the huge debt the country is presently servicing, the Nigeria government is set to borrow again, what is the legal perspective of this? 
I was surprised when I read it on the pages of newspaper that Federal Government wants to borrow again. There may be no crime in that,  but will the money be used for genuine purpose? I support the borrowing if it will be expended judiciously. In the past, government had borrowed without channelling the money to where it is needed. This is why Nigerians are kicking against the idea, when money is borrowed and it is not paid, it affects our economy and so many other things. I want to charge the President to channel the money when it is borrowed to those areas that will be of benefit to the masses;  create job opportunities for the graduates that are unemployed, rehabilitation of our bad roads, among others. There is serious crisis in Zamfara State, government should pay attention to it by providing necessary intervention. Whenever money is borrowed, it should not be used to service another loan or pay salary, but should go into what it was meant for.

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