President Muhammed Buhari on Friday suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen and swore in Justice Tanko Mohammed as Acting Chief Justice.
Justice Onnoghen has been standing trial before the CCT for alleged false declaration of assets.
The suspension came on a day when the Court of Appeal had ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal trying the Chief Justice to stay further trial till Jan 30 when it will give judgement in the appeal filed by the CJN challenging his trial before the CCT.
Following the suspension, Nigerians have taken to twitter to express their views.
Below are some of the reactions.
Ben Murray-Bruce@benmurraybruce: “The suspension of CJN Onnoghen is illegal. Period. Any pretender allowing President @MBuhari and his cabal to deceive him into believing that he’s the new CJN will soon be undeceived. It’s the cabal’s coup to stop Onnoghen constituting Election Petition Tribunals#TankolsaUsurper”
Onyekachi Okorie@kachkorie74: “As well as attacking democracy by the unconstitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria without due process with the aim of influencing the overall outcome of 2019 presidential elections. Posterity will judge for this 2nd attack on democracy”
READ ALSO: Why I suspended Onnoghen – Buhari
Don Oddy Corleone@Oddy4real: “Just before the Chief Justice of Nigeria was about to constitute the Panel to oversee the Presidential Election Tribunal, Buhari suspends him.
“Too fishy.”
EiE Nigeria@EiENigeria: “Does President @MBuhari have the powers to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria?
“On what constitutional ground did the President suspend and replace the Chief Justice of Nigeria?”
The Kingmaker@SmithVinci: “Your MCM Buhari just changed the Chief Justice of Nigeria Onnoghen like someone that’s changing Sim Card from sim 1 to Sim 2.
“The fact that Buhari still has supporters shows that if some people ever get back into the Garden of Eden, they will still eat the forbidden fruit.”
#Val@ValiantNig: “GOODBYE TO THE CORRUPT CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA WALTER ONNOGHEN. YOU’RE ONLY FIT TO BE A JUDGE IN DRUG CARTELS.
“GOOD RIDDANCE.”
John Ashbourne @JohnAshbourne: “NIGERIA’S BUHARI SUSPENDS COUNTRY’S CHIEF JUDGE AND APPOINTS ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA – REUTERS WITNESS- Reuters News
“Fair to say that this is not a great look, three weeks before a closely –fought election.”
Shalom Miriam Shehu @MiriamSheu: “The appointment of Justice Ibrahim Tanko, a Sharia judge as Chief Justice of Nigeria and the composition of security chiefs which are predominantly Muslim is a testament of Buhari’s agenda to Islamize Nigeria.”
