The Presidency has described the conviction of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as a major victory for the anti-corruption policy of the present administration.
The embattled former CJN was convicted on Thursday for false declaration of assets.
Reacting to the verdict, Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu in a statement also noted that the outcome of the trial “demonstrates clearly that the law is no respecter of persons, titles, social or political connections.”
He said the tribunal’s judgment should sound it loud and clear to all and sundry, that the corruption net would be spread far and wide “to hold public officials accountable, whether they are politicians, Judges, civil servants or holding positions of public trust.”
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The presidency insisted that Onnoghen’s conviction was in the tandem with the essence of the rule of law “which is to hold everyone accountable equally before the law, regardless of their high or law status in the society.
“The rule of law would lose its meaning and validity if only the weak, the poor and powerless are punished for their violations of the law. Countries succeed because the rule of law is evenly upheld and enforced. The war against corruption would go nowhere if the high and mighty are spared because of their influence and connections. You can’t fight corruption by allowing impunity because the rule of law cannot function where impunity is tolerated,” Shehu said.
Recall that the CCT in convicting the former CJN ordered that he forfeit the money in the five accounts he failed to declare in his assets declaration form as well as his immediate removal from office.
The tribunal also stripped him of all offices ever held and declared that he should not be allowed to hold public office in the next 10 years.
