CJN should resign as matter of honour – SERAP

Adetokunboh Mumuni, Executive Director Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in this interview speaks on the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen and trial of Paul Usoro (SAN). Excerpts: There are lawyers who read political meaning into the trial of the NBA President Paul Usoro SAN and the CJN Justice […]

Adetokunboh Mumuni, Executive Director Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in this interview speaks on the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen and trial of Paul Usoro (SAN). Excerpts:

There are lawyers who read political meaning into the trial of the NBA President Paul Usoro SAN and the CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen. Is there any basis for that?

I don’t believe in reading motive into anything legal. Let anyone who has committed an offence be made answerable to the law. There should be no discrimination. There should be supremacy of the law. No one should be above the law and everyone should be below the law.

BOSAN met over the weekend in Lagos and issued communique over the CJN’s issue, what is your reaction?

To me, BOSAN has never reacted to issues that affect the ordinary Nigerian. The body only react to matters affecting the people they benefit from their caucus. How many times have BOSAN intervened in matters concerning the common man. We should as a matter of fundamental principles be ready to treat everyone equally.

The AGF has requested that the affected accounts of the CJN be blocked, what is your reaction?

We are in a situation where interim orders are obtained all this while. So why should the CJN’s own be different. Nothing should happen to those accounts so that while the case is going on, the affected accounts would not be depleted.

Is it in order for the anti-graft agencies to look into the CJN’S salary account since 2005?

Whatever would show that the CJN could have all that money in his accounts without touching his salary account should be properly investigated.

 What advice do you have for the CJN?

If the CJN has admitted that he made a mistake in his asset declaration form to the Code of Conduct Bureau, will that mistake cure what has happened?

A mistake is not a defence to not filling CCB Asset Declaration forms. I don’t thing mistake is a defence. If he made a mistake and clear his conscience so as to clear the mess which we have at hand.

Can parties before the court say they made a mistake and will that mistake be acceptable to the court?

It is a matter of honour and the appropriate thing for him to do is to resign, so as to avoid the looming mess, in other that the nation can have peace. It is important that in all we do, we think of the adverse effect.

Will you advise him to appear before the CCT?

The CJN should appear before the CCT with his lawyers and I believe that his lawyers know what to do. It is not appropriate not to appear because if he does not appear, every other person invited before the CCT can also do the same. No matter how high you are, you are not above the law.