ONNOGHEN: YOU HAVE SHOT YOURSELF IN THE LEG, RIGHTS ACTIVIST TELLS NJC


Chinedu Metuh

April 5, 2019


A human Rights Activist and Author, Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, has lamented that the National Judicial Commission (NJC) has has shot itself in the leg by recommending for the compulsory retirement of the former and embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, even as the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had not concluded its adjudication on the matter.

Comrade Paul, queries why Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad who was not recommended by the NJC to replace the embattled CJN on acting capacity was not also recommended for compulsory retirement.

Recall that Justice Walter Onnoghen, was charged before Justice Dalandi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) few months ago over alleged false asset declaration which led to his immediate suspension from the office by President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed and swore-in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

After deliberating on the petition filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), members of the NJC unanimously agreed that Justice Walter Onnoghen has lost the moral authority to continue as the CJN with the litany of allegations bordering on misconduct. The NJC which handles the disciplinary issues in the judiciary sat under the interim leadership of Umaru Abdullahi, former President of the Court of Appeal, who officiated at the meeting as Onnoghen was already under suspension.

The council also concluded that that Tanko Mohammad did not commit any offence by making himself available to be sworn-in as acting CJN without the recommendation of the CJN and these recommendations have been passed to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

Comrade Njoku, says that "the whole process is disheartening, illogical and unfortunate".

"Was the allegations proved? Suppose Onnoghen wins at the Code of Conduct Tribunal what would the NJC do? As far as am concerned, NJC has laid the precedence that would catch up with them soon. Nigeria is in trouble indeed. If the Economic and Financial Crime Commission has incontrovertible evidences against Onnoghen as being reported, why should the NJC recommend for his retirement with full benefits instead of retirement with full prosecution?

"The lopsidedness and crass injustice in this country is beyond description. Why did the NJC not also retire Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who was not recommended by the NJC but made himself available to the executive to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and replaced Onnoghen?

"In March 2018, NJC recommended for the compulsory retirement of the then Abia State Chief Judge, Theresa Uzokwe, over a petition written against her by Umeh Kalu, SAN, Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice of Abia State Government over an illegal constitution and working with a parallel Judicial Service Commission instead of the one constituted by the State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and confirmed by the Abia State House of Assembly. She was also found guilty to have misconducted herself in suit No.HU/131/2005, wherein she delivered judgement in the sum of N825, 000 in favour of a litigant but subsequently signed a garnishee order of N109, 612, 500.

"The same NJC also recommended for the compulsory retirement of Hon.Mr. Justice Obisike Orji of Abia State judiciary, for allowing himself to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Judge of Abia State without a recommendation from the NJC thereby colluding in and aiding an unconstitutional process.

"Therefore, in my logical deduction and cognitive reasoning available in the constitution, if the NJC could compulsorily retire Justice Obisike Orji of Abia State judiciary for allowing himself to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Judge of Abia State by the executive governor of Abia State and accused him of colluding and aiding in an unconstitutional process, why did they not apply the same disciplinary measure in the case of Mr.Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who also submitted himself to the executive by colluding and aiding in an unconstitutional process and was singlehandedly sworn-in by Mr.President devoid of the NJC recommendation? By this development, Justice Obisike Orji, should be reinstated.

" In my view, NJC is unfair in this process with all due respect and I urge Onnoghen to appeal this travesty of justice meted out against him.

"They recommended for a compulsory retirement of Onnoghen on moral ground and that he had become too controversial for the office. Do they just want to give him up to the sharks or what?

"Is NJC not aware that someone somewhere can one day level frivolous accusations against the next CJN or any of the Supreme Court Judges? Will CJN ask those judges to retire simply because they are carrying moral burdens? I had thought that justice can only come after trial has been concluded and judgement given by the last competent court of jurisdiction.

" I am very much aware that it will be hard for this government to allow Onnoghen return to office because of own cases pending in various tribunals and courts and of course due to fear of the unknown.

"It is very sad that the NJC has given President Muhammadu Buhari what he wants. Meanwhile, the saddest thing about Onnoghen's issue is that the entire South had failed. A Southerner wrote the petition against Onnoghen, a Southerner is heading the NBA! There are more Southern Judges in Nigeria! There are more top flight Southerners in the legal profession, but unfortunately, they were not able to stand up for their own. No Northerner would agree to be used to intimidate or cause one of her own to go through what Onnoghen has gone through".

Culled From My Whatsapp!

hmnnn

"Was the allegations proved? Suppose Onnoghen wins at the Code of Conduct Tribunal what would the NJC do? As far as am concerned, NJC has laid the precedence that would catch up with them soon. Nigeria is in trouble indeed. If the Economic and Financial Crime Commission has incontrovertible evidences against Onnoghen as being reported, why should the NJC recommend for his retirement with full benefits instead of retirement with full prosecution?

"The lopsidedness and crass injustice in this country is beyond description. Why did the NJC not also retire Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who was not recommended by the NJC but made himself available to the executive to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and replaced Onnoghen?

"In March 2018, NJC recommended for the compulsory retirement of the then Abia State Chief Judge, Theresa Uzokwe, over a petition written against her by Umeh Kalu, SAN, Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice of Abia State Government over an illegal constitution and working with a parallel Judicial Service Commission instead of the one constituted by the State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and confirmed by the Abia State House of Assembly. She was also found guilty to have misconducted herself in suit No.HU/131/2005, wherein she delivered judgement in the sum of N825, 000 in favour of a litigant but subsequently signed a garnishee order of N109, 612, 500.

"The same NJC also recommended for the compulsory retirement of Hon.Mr. Justice Obisike Orji of Abia State judiciary, for allowing himself to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Judge of Abia State without a recommendation from the NJC thereby colluding in and aiding an unconstitutional process.

"Therefore, in my logical deduction and cognitive reasoning available in the constitution, if the NJC could compulsorily retire Justice Obisike Orji of Abia State judiciary for allowing himself to be sworn-in as the acting Chief Judge of Abia State by the executive governor of Abia State and accused him of colluding and aiding in an unconstitutional process, why did they not apply the same disciplinary measure in the case of Mr.Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who also submitted himself to the executive by colluding and aiding in an unconstitutional process and was singlehandedly sworn-in by Mr.President devoid of the NJC recommendation? By this development, Justice Obisike Orji, should be reinstated.

This is the crux of the whole matter! Only fools will argue with glaring facts. The Presidency just want to nail Onnoghen on trumped up charges at all cost. Onnoghen will not resign and cannot be forced to resign or thrown out. Buhari and his deens should take note!

Shameless workers of iniquity.... I am sure they will side the devil if he will grant gaytiku victory. Like their morally bankrupt rapist cownu they worship evil

Must the NJC do your bidding? If you are not satisfied, give your own recommendation na. Mtcheeeeeew

NgeneUkwenu:
Always them.

Defending corruption cases across Nigeria. Tufiakwa.

Definition of corruption: dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power

APC would regret this decision.

Hehehe.was it not because of this same man some people wr threatening to shutdown the Judiciary then.Jokers.
Onnoghen is as Insincere as the people that sent him packing.that single act of suspending the NJC meeting got alot to say about the kind of person he is and he will likely favour some people instead of allowing justice to previal which the people that planned his downfall are also scared.

Amuocha:
APC would regret this decision.

Have you drank Cownu urine today?
Idiot!

This is how they argue with their brain upside down. It was clearly stated that the NJC didn't pass any recommendation on the Asset Declaration because the trial is ongoing at the tribunal. The recommendations were based on the several allegations of the Efcc.

Some Activist are dumb sha

The NJC has clearlybbeen compromised!!!! Never before have I seen the Nigerian Judiciary so useless

SarkinYarki:
The NJC has clearlybbeen compromised!!!! Never before have I seen the Nigerian Judiciary so useless

Shoo! I thought you said the Nations newspaper was spreading propaganda yesterday being the first publication to report on the recommendations of NJC. So you have accepted the propaganda as the new reality.

We have kicked out the judgement trader and Bureau de Change ex-CJN and there is nothing you can do about it. Let the Bureau de Change oga go and face his foreign currency exchange business. There is only one Commader-in-Chief, his name is Muhmmadu Buhari and he has commanded.

Iamgrey5:
Shoo! I thought you said the Nations newspaper was spreading propaganda yesterday being the first publication to report on the recommendations of NJC. So you have accepted the propaganda as the new reality.

Flee from me you Sadist!!!!

used to think that every one is innocent until proven guilty. The recent SARS harassment has made me think twice. every young mab driving a Jeep is arrested for being a yahoo guy. So a young man cannot be rich again. While I admit that many young guys make such money from questionable source,doesn't the onus if proof lie on the persecutor to investigate and have strong evidence linking suspect to a crime before arrest is made. After arrest is made,they transfer the burden of proof to him..." proof how small boy like you make so much money"
if he does not give a satisfactory answer, he is detained. hence, He is guilty until he proves himself innocent.
The same system is now mused in the Onnoghen saga.

I wonder why a particular section of this country is so bigoted and resentful. With all the glaring facts gathered against justice Onnoghen, Wike's friend, some people still don't see any wrong doing on his part. Haters of mankind and truth, "go and die" (Oshiomhole, 201').

SarkinYarki:
The NJC has clearlybbeen compromised!!!! Never before have I seen the Nigerian Judiciary so useless

You people were boasting that Onnoghen had NJC in his pocket and nothing would happen to him, but now they have shown that they are independent, you have started wailing stupidly.

We know those who supported this crass injustice against a fellow southerner. The other south will remember.

nonsobaba:
You people were boasting that Onnoghen had NJC in his pocket and nothing would happen to him, but now they have shown that they are independent, you have started wailing stupidly.

They even told us that I will would be the next CJN.

Dannyset:
This is how they argue with their brain upside down. It was clearly stated that the NJC didn't pass any recommendation on the Asset Declaration because the trial is ongoing at the tribunal. The recommendations were based on the several allegations of the Efcc.

Some Activist are dumb sha

So efcc does not need to prosecute or charge him to court before njc will pronounce compulsory retirement on him.
If Onnoghen decides to clear his name and go to court and par adventure he wins, what will happen
Methinks we should search all avenues and get the fact before we jump into conclusion so that we would not create a bigger problems.

Alot of persons don't even understand how the judiciary and NJC operates.
The judiciary and NJC prides her members not be brought to the spot light especially when it has to do with corruption charges be it true or false.
Once such gets into the public domain and prolongs even if you're innocent, you'll be asked to go for compulsory retirement.

Op this NJC decisions can be rescind

princemillla:
Op this NJC decisions can be rescind

Sure it can! Onnoghen have every reason to push this case further to get justice. As you can see this useless NJC is pro-Executive and this is a body meant to be independent.

Ratello:


Sure it can! Onnoghen have every reason to push this case further to get justice. As you can see this useless NJC is pro-Executive and this is a body meant to be independent.

Exactly my point

Dannyset:
This is how they argue with their brain upside down. It was clearly stated that the NJC didn't pass any recommendation on the Asset Declaration because the trial is ongoing at the tribunal. The recommendations were based on the several allegations of the Efcc.

Some Activist are dumb sha

What f Onnoghen is innocent of the EFCC allegations?

bixton:
Alot of persons don't even understand how the judiciary and NJC operates.
The judiciary and NJC prides her members not be brought to the spot light especially when it has to do with corruption charges be it true or false.
Once such gets into the public domain and prolongs even if you're innocent, you'll be asked to go for compulsory retirement.

So basically what you’re saying is that all a despotic president (like the one we presently have) need do is to accuse the head of a supposedly independent arm of gov’t...sully his name in the media....get rid of him without recourse to the NJC....and voila, mission accomplished, since he would be forced ‘to go for compulsory retirement’!?

Ayed44:
What f Onnoghen is innocent of the EFCC allegations?

What if he is indeed guilty as affirmed by the panel of experienced legal minds??

SarkinYarki:
The NJC has clearlybbeen compromised!!!! Never before have I seen the Nigerian Judiciary so useless

Compromised because they didn't rule in the direction that suit your leanings??

Stop this hypocrisy please. The NJC as presently constituted is an advantage to any CJN, who usually appoints majority of them.

For them to rule against him indicate that the allegations against him are weighty and true.

Go and read the EFCC petition and the proceedings of the NJC published by The Cable. You'll see it is not rocket science for one to know Onnoghen is a gonner.

scaramucci:
We know those who supported this crass injustice against a fellow southerner. The other south will remember.

See talk. Na South send am to soil his hands??

Abeg stop this useless talk.

scaramucci:
We know those who supported this crass injustice against a fellow southerner. The other south will remember.

I tell you. Same way we all know those who supported Jonathan when he unceremoniously removed Justice Ago Salami.
We will never forget.

agabusta:

See talk. Na South send am to soil his hands??
Abeg stop this useless talk.

Somebody that has brain crash. You dey mind him.