Former Nigeria’s Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has asked Nigerians to rise up and defend the country’s constitution.
Mr. Atiku made the call on Saturday in a statement made available to The NEXT EDITION.
“I have received the news of the sudden charges about to be filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, with apprehension and suspicion especially as such a move against the head of an arm of our government is coming so close to an election in preparation of which the Buhari administration has shown growing desperation.
“My suspicions are further exacerbated by the fact that the Buhari government is pressuring an independent and self-governing arm of government with the aim of getting CJN Walter Onnoghen to resign or be pushed aside.
“I stand on the side of the rule of law and believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty.”
He argued that only a court of competent jurisdiction should find the CJN guilty and not the Buhari administration.
According to him, since the country is still a democracy, the executive cannot usurp the role of the judiciary.
He noted that the country is not a fascist dictatorship as President Buhari is acting out.
“Any attempt to force Justice Walter Onnoghen to vacate his office, 4 weeks to an election for which the unpopular Buhari administration has shown every intention to manipulate, is a move pregnant with negative meaning.
“I see no reason whatsoever for the ongoing pressure by the Buhari government to force Justice Walter Onnoghen to vacate office when he has not been convicted for any offence.
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“I therefore call on the President to respect the principle of separation of powers and abide by the rule of law on this matter and stop any interference or pressure on Justice Walter Onnoghen or the judiciary and allow the law and the constitution take its full course,” he said.
The Federal Government had asked Mr. Onnoghen, to resign with immediate effect as head of the nation’s judiciary over alleged sundry asset declaration issues.
In a move to force Justice Onnoghen out of office, it will on January 14, arraign the CJN before the Justice Danladi Yakubu-led Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
The charges have already been filed and served on him on Friday at his official residence in Abuja, preparatory for his appearance at the tribunal.
The Federal Government among others is accusing Nigeria’s Head of the Judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
He is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary accounts made up of dollars, pound sterling and euro, which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.