Ime Akpan
Over 300 lawyers from three branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Cross River State, comprising Calabar, Ikom and Ogoja, on Tuesday protested on the streets of Calabar against the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr. Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The lawyers displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘No to Tyranny,’ ‘Probe CCT Chairman,’ ‘Probe Tanko;’ ‘We are not in a military era; let rule law prevail,’ NBA Calabar says no to Executive Rascality,’ ‘Nigeria not a Banana republic,’ Justice Onnoghen we know, who is Tanko?.
They congregated at the state judiciary headquarters, High Court complex on Mary Slessor Avenue before matching to the governor’s office on Diamond Hill where they presented a six-point demand to the governor for onward transmission to the president.
The vice chairman of NBA, Calabar Branch, Mr. Julius Idiege, read the communiqué before it was presented to the state deputy governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, who received it on behalf of the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.
“We condemn in the strongest terms, and wholly reject the unconstitutional suspension of Honourable Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari, vide a black market ex parte order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“We are horrified that the Hon Justice Tanko Mohammed submitted himself to be sworn in as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, thereby subscribing to this abuse of the constitution and we find the actions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal perfidious and fraudulent.”
“Unless this abuse of the constitution is redressed immediately, the rule of law will be in jeopardy and this will drive the country towards anarchy.
“The constitution of Nigeria must remain supreme and sacrosanct. We call on the president to immediately retrace his steps and reinstate Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen to his position as Chief Justice of Nigeria, and preserve the constitution which he swore to uphold,” said the communiqué in part.
Receiving the communiqué on behalf of Prof Ben Ayade ,his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu said that the government has noted the efforts of NBA and promised to hand over the communiqué to the governor.
Ivara said: “Cross River is the home state of Justice Onnoghen. We have noted the efforts NBA has made and the reactions all over the country. I assure you that as soon as the governor comes back I will hand over the communiqué to him,” Esu said.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the nationwide boycott order issued by the NBA, activities at the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and other courts in the state were paralysed.
The lawyers said the boycott will continue on Wednesday.
Also, traditional rulers in the state said the suspension of their son, Onnoghen, had thoroughly embarrassed them.
The paramount ruler and the Onun 1 of Biase local government area, Chief Nicholas Odum, JP who is the direct traditional father of Onnoghen and the Obol Lopon of Ugep who doubles as the paramount ruler of Yakurr local government area, Obol Ufem Eteng said they were sad over the removal of their son from office.
The duo prayed Buhari to make them happier as father of the nation by recalling Onnoghen saying they were devastated by the fate that had befallen him.
They spoke in Biase when the minister of state for housing, power and works, Mr. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, flagged off the rehabilitation of the 75 kilometre Akpet-Odukpani section of the Ogoja-Ikom-Calabar road.
“We are very happy with President Buhari for helping us to rehabilitate this federal road which had been responsible for many accidents and deaths of our people.
“We shall however be happier for the president to kindly recall our son, the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen back to office. When the president has done that he can be assured of our 200% supports.
“His suspension has thoroughly embarrassed the people of Biase, Cross River and South-South. It would have been better if he was retired. It is a big slap on our faces that he is so humiliated. We therefore strongly appeal to the president to please reconsider his stand”, Odum said.
