Liberal Mind

Onnoghen’s suspension: Coup under Buhari watch

 

With Ayobrown A.A.G

‘Sometimes, in order to move forward, you may have to go back’ – this was the very first message I got yesterday…I wondered who did until I was ask to keep details off records. Have you ever wondered what marks our time on this earth…if one’s life can really make an impact on this world, or if it is the choice we make that matters? But whatever choice you may choose, ‘life goes on’. Coup is plot..or what else can this be called if not ‘plots are not public knowledge’, reactions were in millions and still counting, condemning the President’s action, describing it as unconstitutional, null and void…except for his deputy, who neither supported nor agreed, but sits on the fence. Many believe it is a case of professor of law who failed law school exam …what an irony!
“I feel very sad that is going on at all. President Muhammadu Buhari, his whole approach is that institutions should just do their work. I can tell by fact that he did not know about this until Saturday evening. He did not know that there will be any kind of arraignment until Saturday evening. He has said categorically don’t interfere with what the institutions are doing. Sometimes it has consequences like we have today. My take is that I rather not have a situation where members of a profession are being tried for an offence. I don’t feel particularly good about it, as a matter of fact, I feel very sad about it, that is going on at all,” Prof Osinbajo said.
Truth is never lost no matter how it touches you, and truly prophesy is really a dangerous obsession…man must understand that sometimes it is better to work with your rival or enemy than destroy them. This was the case as many Nigerians are still in shock over the news of the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari. You can imagine the reason local and international memos and calls are exchanging destinations, instantaneously on how can it be, never, it is not possible?…this is a privy into diplomatic circle according to the source.
United States Government through its embassy said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned by the impact of the executive branch’s decision to suspend and replace the Chief Justice and head of the judicial branch without the support of the legislative branch on the eve of national and state elections.”
The U.S. authorities said the development was a mockery of Mr Buhari and other Nigerian politicians’ commitment to a free elections exercise next month. “We note widespread Nigerian criticism that this decision is unconstitutional and that it undermines the independence of the judicial branch”. The statement went further “that undercuts the stated determination of government, candidates, and political party leaders to ensure that the elections proceed in a way that is free, fair, transparent, and peaceful – leading to a credible result”.
Still drawing criticisms, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) expressed concern over the process and timing of the suspension. “With 20 days until the presidential and National Assembly elections, political parties, candidates and voters must be able to have confidence in the impartiality and independence of the judicial system.
“The EU EOM will continue observing all aspects of the election, including the independence of the election administration, the neutrality of security agencies, and the extent to which the judiciary can and does fulfil its election-related responsibilities.”
There is a tide in the affairs of men, taken, it leads to fortune, but omitted and the voyage of life in bound in shallows and in miseries. Remember how President Buhari came to power, it was the failure of Peoples Democratic Party that gave birth to the emergence of APC as today’s Nigeria’s ruling party…those who eat will surely survive, not necessarily those who kill, it is call a game in animal planet.
Every ambitious move is a gamble, Buhari defended his action, saying, “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 others, relating to his alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers”.
No justice in this world unless you make it… Buhari so thinks “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 Organisation first became public about a fortnight ago.
Believing in his game, FG even went ahead to warn all foreign nations and organisations over their interference in Nigeria politics, which many believe may attract international sanctions.
Power reside where men think it resides, it is a trick in the magic world, “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”.
Decision to investigate and sack the CJN was not Buhari’s decision but…., the president is an important index, part political equation, if it must be balance… this must be a coup under Buhari, many believed. ….. President swears, he heard about it much later. “Allah is my witness, I am not aware Justice Walter Onoghen is to be arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal CCT” – according to President Buhari’s tweet.
Indeed, philosophers are on this earth to make politicians look good, if truly Onnoghen is guilty, but in who’s court, who’s the judge and who’s country’s constitution and many more are now the questions for philosophers, political analysts and the likes.
He added, “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.”
Injustice with mercy instead of injustice with justice, The President argued that Onnoghen ought to have resigned before now, having admitted mistakes. Furthermore, he said “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” – How many of such people resigned these days?
Many including senior lawyers, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and even professors of law are of the opinion that it is only the National Judicial Council that is empowered by our constitution to suspend the CJN…perhaps the vice president thinks otherwise, many wondered.
The President does not have the power to remove the CJN in the manner he did because Section 292 of the Constitution is very clear on how the CJN, and other heads of court can be removed from office. In the case of the CJN, the President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, what you need to do is to go to the Senate. The Senate, on an address supported by two-thirds majority can now advise the President to remove the CJN from office either by reason of infirmity or breach of code of conduct or for misconduct.
Horses may be faster than men, but also dumber than men, as it played out. Change, they say is the only constant and permanent thing in this life. When you try one option and failed, then try another, such is life. If not, why then did nature gives us options. But when you refused the call of nature or misinterpret your assigned codes and signs, then it is nothing but a case of ‘a wrong turn’. Loosing has its advantages, if forces you to change when time comes. But for now, wait and see. If you dislike one monarch you cannot despise next one.

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