‘What we think about charges against CJN’

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, was recently accused of false assets declaration. Daily Trust sought the opinions of some Nigerians on the unfolding development.   Hon. Danjuma Dickson Auta, 48, Politician, Jos It’s nothing but witch-hunt and a blow by the desperate All Progressives Congress (APC) government to kill our democracy. Remember, […]

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, was recently accused of false assets declaration. Daily Trust sought the opinions of some Nigerians on the unfolding development.

 

Hon. Danjuma Dickson Auta, 48, Politician, Jos

It’s nothing but witch-hunt and a blow by the desperate All Progressives Congress (APC) government to kill our democracy. Remember, we have three arms of government and each arm is supposed to be independent.

The truth is that we all are aware that corruption has eaten deep into every fabric of the Nigerian state, which we all condemn in totality. The war to get rid of corruption in our society must be supported by all. However, what is happening today is a game of if you belong to the team of the powers that be then you are a sacred cow, and once the government discovers that you will be a stumbling block to their evil plan they find ways of flushing you out.

When you look at the cream of those accused of corruption since the beginning of this administration, they are those in other parties. But anyone who cross carpets to the ruling APC becomes a saint.

The truth must be said, this government is only afraid of what lies ahead. If the forthcoming elections turn out not to be in their favour, and the machinery they are preparing for rigging is not successful, they know that the court would be the final decider, and they will have to face the no-nonsense CJN Onnoghen who would not allow himself to be muzzled. That is what all these allegations are all about, and they want to oust him at all costs.

The question I am asking is; where were they when he took this position and why now when elections are here? Something is just fishy. By and large, in all his four years, the president has proven that he is a sectional leader. The situation right now is such that the government under Buhari is so desperate that he has no regard for Nigerian.

Lastly,   the appointment of  the security chiefs should be spread across the geographical zones of the country.

 

Isaac Akogwu, 40, Accountant, Port Harcourt

As much as I am not disposed to condoning corruption or criminality in whatever guise, and being an ardent believer in the rule of law, the whole exercise smacks of political permutation because elections are just around the corner. Where verifiable charges could be established against the CJN and due process and the rule of law are followed, it is a welcome development. But where this is not done and unverifiable charges are brought just to ensure he is removed as the CJN to create room for an acting and lackey CJN who would only do the bidding of his pay masters is wrong. This would only paint us in bad light among the comity of nations. Also, it may be indicative of a retrogressive trend in our democratic culture.

In summary, we may not have learnt any lesson from our political history.

 

Kashim Ibn Yakubu, 41, Lecturer, Kano

It’s unfortunate that the charges against the CJN have been given ethno-political colouration. The questions that beg for answers are: Did the CJN breach the law? Is the CJN above the law? It is said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The CJN should stop hiding under legal technicalities to short-change the course of justice. He must prove his innocence, otherwise he has no moral grounds to continue superintending over our judicial arm.

 

Habeebah Suleiman, Politician, Lafiya

We have a system founded on constituted laws governing us as a nation and no one is above the law. The CJN is the highest custodian of Nigerian laws and as such shouldn’t be under any cause for mistrust. The corruption charges against him are grave and if he is innocent, he should trust the same judiciary he represents to exonerate him without any chaos within and between the judiciary and the Federal Government. Nigerians want a corruption-free nation and we are watching.

 

James Sunday Igah, 35,  Journalist, Abuja

I am of the firm opinion that no one is above the law and that anyone who finds himself on the other side of the law should be held accountable.

However, looking critically at the events of the moment and all that is presently happening, prosecuting the CJN is not pursuing the cause of justice. The surgical dispatch with which the government is pursuing this matter calls for caution. I can assure you that what we are seeing in this instance has all the trappings of desperation on the part of those who are pursuing this and it speaks volumes. The law is clear as to how cases like this should be handled. We have the National Judicial Council (NJC), a body that ought to have looked into these allegations and recommended appropriate action, but this process has been jettisoned due to the subterranean motive behind the whole fiasco. The Federal Government is breaching due process and jumping the gun by taking him to the CCT without recourse to the NJC. I see something wrong with that. You can’t breach due process in the process of prosecuting somebody for breaching due process in compliance with the declaration of assets.

At most, this is another round of intimidation. The head of the legislative arm has been harassed and intimidated by this government. Now it is the turn of the judiciary, and the timing also. Something is not adding up.v