The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, (SCSN), Kaduna state has thrown its weight behind President Muhammad Buhari over the suspension of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnonghen on the alleged failed declaration of assets.
This was even as it called on the South-South governors and the Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP) to exercise absolute restraint and let justice prevail on the matter.
The Muslim body in a press conference led by its Chairman, Sheikh Sambo Rigachikun and the secretary, Engr. AbdurRahman Hassan on Wednesday warned that further agitations against the suspension of justice Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) could further polarize the fragile country, rather than uniting it.
They called on the Federal government not to succumb to any form of pressure from ‘some quarters,’ that may amount to the breakdown of law and order and do all it could within the constitutional provision to lay the issue to rest.
The Muslim body said it is expected of the National Judicial Council, (NJC) to discharge its duty at all cost by making an appropriate decision against any judicial officer that is unfit and improper to be a judicial officer in the land, as the trust is on them.
They warned those attempting to give the appointment of Acting Chief justice, Tanko Muhammad and other happenings in the judiciary a religious colouration to be mindful of the fact that; “that is a costly trend, its an ill wind that will blow no one good, in this country.”
According to the Shariah Council: ” It is disheartening that the same Senior Advocates that saw the suspension and removal of Justice Salami are now faulting the similar action against Justice Onnonghen. How can a Senior Advocate degrade himself to think within the whim of his ethnicity and religious sentiment? This is unfortunate.
“It is quite fresh in our memory when the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami faced the same fate of suspension and removal not on allegation if corruption from his side under Jonathan’s administration, but because he tried in his own way to uphold justice, unfortunately, it did not go down well with the then administration.
“It is a fact that the same administration also suspended the then CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for whistleblowing on some missing funds. Heavens did not fall. No Muslim protested that his own was removed illegally, simply because he acted patriotically in favour of our dear nation,” the Muslim body recalled.
The council, however, urged all Muslims and the public in general, to be law abiding and pray fervently for peaceful coexistence in the country.