The ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) has alleged connivance between the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and a certain section of the Nigerian Bar Association, ( NBA) to undermine the fight against corruption in the country.
Reacting to the PDP aversion to the trial of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, national publicity secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Isa Onilu claimed the south-south governors and a section of the bar emboldened Justice Onnoghen not to appear in court yesterday.
Tribune Online findings, however, revealed that Justice Onnoghen lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN told the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar that his client was not in court because he was not properly served.
Mallam Onilu further expressed concern that the PDP and certain members of the NBA were always in a haste to cast aspersion on President Muhammadu Buhari when people alleged to have been involved in financial misconduct and heist were to be arraigned.
He said: “The likely affinity existing between the PDP and a section of the judiciary is further accentuated by the non-appearance of Justice Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday in line with the suggestions made by the PDP governors from the South-South on Sunday.
“Are Nigerians expected to see this as a mere coincidence? Is the PDP and their governors acting a script? Haven’t we missed an opportunity to show confidence in an institution headed by the CJN? “
The APC further warned the PDP governors who addressed a press briefing on Sunday not to read ethnic motive to the trial of Justice Onnoghen but allow the law to run its course.
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“We have also noticed the very dangerous attempt to designate the CJN’s arraignment along ethnic and religious lines thereby trying to heat up the polity by evoking primordial sentiment which would do the country no good. This is an ungodly ploy when we consider that the CJN was an officer of the federation rather than that of any region.
We, therefore, urge all Nigerians of good conscience to caution the PDP as the country is bigger than any political party or the interest it represents, and nothing should stop the country’s steady march into sustainable democratic governance.
In our earlier statement on the CJN’s CCT trial, we had noted the PDP’s shocking and innate proclivity to defend cases of corruption anytime it arises. The call by the PDP’s South-South Governors for the CJN’s boycott of the CCT trial further cements our position. Let it be reiterated that nobody no matter how highly placed should be above the laws of the land.
We wish to put on record that the virulent attack that has come from the PDP in the wake of the trial of the CJN over alleged false asset declaration is particularly worrisome and suspicious when the PDP has in fact called for the removal of virtually all heads of government’s arms, particularly the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of the Police over frivolous issues.
While the will not be drawn into debates on the legality and sponsored conspiracies of the CCT trial, we insist that our democratic and constitutional institutions must be allowed to operate without interference and undue pressure from partisan and sundry interests as being done by the PDP and its cronies.
The CCT trial is a legal matter, let the law run its course. The CJN must go through the instrumentalities of the courts, more importantly as an institution he represents. Indeed, this is the true test of our constitution, rule of law and will deepen democracy.
Where there are contestations on institutional procedures, we must allow same institutions perform their functions unhindered, autocorrect if necessary and set good precedence on future matters.
This is the only way we can build strong and lasting institutions.”
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