Ime Akpan
No. Onnoghen’s decision is retirement, not resignation –Awomolo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the resignation of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Walter Onnoghen saying it justifies the action taken by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The CJN is reported to have handed in his resignation letter to the president on Thursday, April 4, although there has been no official confirmation of the resignation by the presidency.
The CJN, who was standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false declaration of assets was suspended by President Buhari on January 25, few weeks before the kickoff of the 2019 elections.
Onnoghen’s resignation came barely 24 hours after the National Judicial Council (NJC) forwarded the report of its investigation to the president and reportedly recommended the retirement of Onnoghen with full benefits.
Addressing the media in Abuja yesterday, spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu said Onnoghen had done the first thing last when it became obvious that he made a mistake of not properly declaring his assets as required by law.
He said when Onnoghen’s matter became open, “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.”
Issa-Onilu lashed out at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the civil society organisations as well as “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” for condemning the president’s decision on Onnoghen.
He said all those who criticised Buhari for obeying the ruling of the CCT will now realise that their action was not in their interest of the country.
“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,” he said.
Also reacting, a legal practitioner Mr. Afam Osigwe even though Onnoghen had reportedly resigned, it was good that he cleared of the malicious damage done to his personality on the social media.
“It was important that the CJN defended himself at the CCT. It was good that he went through the rigours of trial to clear his name from what was published in the social media which were found to have been lies.
“That he resigned to serve the institution is a good development. It was obvious that the executive wanted him out. When the president swore in the acting CJN, he hinted that the judiciary did not cooperate with the executive. He felt that most of the people they expected the judiciary to deal with appropriately were set free on technical grounds,” said Osigwe.
Meanwhile, counsel for Onnoghen at the CCT trial, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo has shed some light on Onnoghen’s decision to step down from office.
Premium Times quotes Awomolo as saying that Onnoghen’s decision is a retirement and not a resignation from office.
He said Onnoghen sent his notice of retirement to President Buhari in line with constitutional provisions.
“What he has done is to send his notice of retirement to the President. And he has done so, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
“His position from day one has been that it is only the NJC that can discipline him. Now that the NJC has spoken, out of respect for the NJC and the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Nigerian Judiciary, he sent his letter of retirement, not resignation. He never resigned.
“All he has done is to send a letter to the president, saying thank you. I have served this country for about 32 years. I want to retire. That’s all he has done,” said Awomolo.
