Onnoghen: Anti-corruption group condemns suspension

A group, Youth Anti-Corruption network Nigeria (YANET) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the suspension on Justice Walter Onnoghen to enable him to resign constitutionally over corruption allegations levelled against him.

The National President of the Group, Ovo Otarigho while addressing a press conference, condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice by the Executive, saying that the principle of separation of power must be respected.

While calling an investigation into the allegations, Otarigho called on the embattled Chief Justice, to as a matter of urgency resign when recalled by the President over the stain on his image by the corruption allegation levelled against him.

Otarigho said: “We reject in its totality the excuse given by Justice Onnoghen as it concerns his failure to completely declare his assets as required by the law. A judge must not be corrupt, a judge must not be partial, even as innocent omission or ignorance remains inexcusable in the eyes of the law.

“We, therefore, call on all concerned agencies to investigate the facts behind Chief Justice Onnoghen and his finances, and if found guilty, he should be subjected to the prosecutorial dictates of our laws; but until then, he is presumed innocent according to Section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended until proven guilty and through proper procedure(s).

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“We vehemently condemn and reject the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Onnoghen on account of his failure to completely declare his assets, which is coming just days away from the general elections. Mr President, your decision to interfere is contemptuous and questionable.

“We call on Mr President to lift the unconstitutional suspension immediately and we demand the immediate resignation of the Chief Justice considering the moral and ethical implication of the case.

“Mr President, we appreciate your desire to fight corruption; however, it must be done according to the law, following due process. Non-conformity with due process alone amounts to corruption on its own and it must be resisted. This action alone if not changed makes a mockery of your fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“Make no mistake about this, Mr President; your decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria threatens our democracy as it is against the principle of separation of powers.”

He also called on all political parties not to take advantage of this situation to promote hate speech and fuel their supporters into violence before, during and after the election.

Ahead of the elections, the group tasked INEC to play an independent role in conducting the elections, and also remember that they (INEC) are being funded from the public, therefore their allegiance should be to the public, not individuals.

“INEC must play a truly independent role in the conduct of the election and must not be seen favouring any party. INEC must remember that the commission is being funded by our commonwealth, from the purse of our nation and as such, your allegiance must be to the citizens of Nigeria and not individuals or political parties,” he added.