The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen is challenging the decision in court on Monday.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday suspended Justice Onnoghen weeks before the country’s crucial presidential election next month.
President Buhari quickly swore in an acting chief justice in the person of Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed.
The Nigerian leader during the swearing-in event cited the ongoing hearing at the Code of Conduct Tribunal relating to Onnoghen as the reason.
Justice Walter Onnoghe has been accused of failing to declare his assets before taking office in 2017.
Nigeria’s laws require that senior civil servants and government officials declare their assets prior to taking office. They are also required to do so after leaving office.
This is part of efforts at dealing with corruption in a country struggling to deal with such a canker.
Prosecutors brought the charges against Justice Walter Onnoghen before three-member Code of Conduct Tribunal this moth.
Challenging the suspension
A member of Onnoghen’s legal team is quoted by the local newspaper the Punch as saying that “We will be going to court to challenge the suspension.”
The lawyer said his client “was not even served with the court processes before he was removed by the President. So, all these will be challenged in court.”
“He was suspended late on Friday and you know courts do not sit on Saturday and Sunday,” the lawyer said.
The opposition in Nigeria has condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice. It describes it as an act of a dictator.
Other foreign governments have also condemned the decision. The European Union, United States and Britain raised concerns.
But the Nigerian government has rejected these concerns especially those from foreign governments saying it would not accept any foreign “meddling”.
“FG [federal government] determined to ensure free, fair elections. This government will not bend the rules, and will not allow meddling in our affairs,” a statement from Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu read.
Source: Africafeeds.com
