₦airaland Forum

Premium Times, an online news medium, has joined calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the suspension slammed on embattled Walter Onnoghen, Nigeria’s Justice Chief.

Mr Buhari on Friday suspended Mr Onnoghen who is accused of non-declaration of assets traced to him. Since the news broke Nigerians and some foreign countries has been calling for a reverse of the action.

On January 9, a former aide to Buhari alleged in a petition that the top jurist refused some bank accounts traced to him. His petition was forwarded to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) who on behalf of the Federal Government hurriedly slammed a six count charge on the Chief Judge.

The action was viewed by critics as an attempt to annex the judiciary given the fact that the executive arm of government had severally attempted to annex the legislative arm and the press but on different occasions failed to achieve its bid.

When arraigned on January 14 the top jurist through his legal team challenged the jurisdiction of the CCT to try the Chief Justice. The team argued that there are constitutionally laid down procedure of prosecuting a judicial officer if found guilty of any offence. They said the procedure was not followed.

Series of court orders has halted the trial of the Chief Justice at the CCT with the most recent being from the Court of Appeal.

Although the upper Appeal Court has given its order on Thursday, Buhari went ahead to suspend the country’s judicial head citing a recommendation from the lower CCT urging him to do so.

Examining the president’s action, Premium Times said it was illegal and unconstitutional. The online paper stated this in an editorial it published on Sunday.

While calling for the reverse of the suspension, it listed the clamp down on a national daily early this year, the invasion of the National Assembly last year and the recent trial of the top jurist as signs that under Buhari the nation is sliding to dictatorial regime.

“There are worrisome, unmistakable signs of a gradual descent to dictatorship in Nigeria, especially in the last few years under the President Buhari administration. Unless urgently checked by the concerted efforts of the Nigerian people and lovers of democracy, the consequences will spread far beyond the shores of the country,” Premium Times said.

The paper cited the timing and execution of the trial of Onnoghen is inappropriate. It had earlier advised the president to shelve the arraignment of the Chief Justice.

“First, the speed with which the presidency is pursuing Mr Onnoghen’s trial. The CCB arraigned Mr Onnoghen at the Tribunal within days of receiving the petition against him. This alacrity is curious of a government notorious for lethargy in all aspects of governance.

“Then the timing of the trial. It began only a few weeks to the general elections in which Mr Onnoghen’s office has a crucial role. His suspension was announced just hours before he was to constitute the various tribunals to sit on petitions arising from the elections. This choice of time for the trial has strengthened the suspicion that its real object is to shackle Mr Onnoghen and keep him far away from playing the role the Constitution assigns his office in elections.

“Even as obscene is the mentioned swiftness with which Mr Buhari executed the order of the CCT to suspend the CJN. The Tribunal made the order on January 23. The president put it into effect two days later. This speed of action is uncharacteristic of a government renowned for snail-speed response to important national issues.

“Given the attitude of the government to court judgments, its response to the order of the CCT raises even higher the red flag of cynicism. The government has serially flouted court orders for the release of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and of an Islamic cleric, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. Both of them have been in detention since 2015.

“We are alarmed that an administration long accused of selectivity in its flagship war on corruption is now moving to choose court judgments to obey. The rule of law demands indiscriminate obedience of court judgments until set aside by a higher court.

“Mr Buhari’s reckless violation of the Constitution in his suspension of the CJN has pushed the nation to the edge of a constitutional crisis. It has also increased the tension surrounding a crucial general election.

“Again, we call on President Buhari to reverse his suspension of the CJN and to stand aside for the due process of law to apply on Mr Onnoghen’s alleged infractions.”

Premium Times also called on the embattled jurist to step aside.

“Equally, Mr Onnoghen’s credibility has been seriously tainted by the revelations of vast sums of money that he conveniently forgot to declare as part of his asset and he cannot continue as CJN. He should save Nigeria the present embarrassing conundrum by resigning his appointment,” the paper said.

NgeneUkwenu:
God Bless Buhari

Say No To Corrupt Judiciary.

The residence of Walter Onnoghen, oust Chief Justice of Nigeria, has been taken over by security operatives.

Mr Onnoghen was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari on the recommendation of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, (CCT).

He is accused of failing to declare some assets traced to him.

While suspending him yesterday, the president alleged that the top jurist has derailed his anti-corruption war by freeing alleged corrupt individuals who parade themselves freely in the society.

The siege laid at the residence of the accused is reported by Punch Newspapers whose correspondent was prevented from gaining entrance to the residence of the jurist.

The siege is said to be laid by Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and those of the Department of State Services, (DSS) baring the press from accessing the home of the oust jurist.

“Our correspondent who tried to gain access to the house located close to the Supreme Court was denied entry by stern-looking security men comprised of policemen and men of Department of State Services,” the paper reported.

At press time, it is unclear who ordered the siege at the home of Onnoghen which is said to be a stone throw from the Supreme Court Premises.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has expelled its Imo State governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Mr Uzodimma was ostracized by the state chapter of the party on Thursday at a press conference at the party secretariat.

Daniel Nwafor, the APC chairman who announced the lawmaker’s expulsion accused him of anti-party activities.

“Senator Hope has been sponsoring the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial candidate, Senator Osita Izunaso as against the APC Senatorial candidate in Imo West, Governor Rochas Okorocha, he has also been running parallel Exco in his Omuma Ward and issuing party cards without recourse to party Exco”, Nwafor alleged.

“This is to inform you that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Omuma Ward of Oru East Local Government Area in Imo State has expelled Senator Hope Uzodinma from the party due to certain inordinate and anti-party activities perpetrated by him and his cohorts.

“The Imo State Working Committee (SWC) of our great party has examined the processes and procedures of the sanction on Senator Hope Uzodinma by his Ward as affirmed by the Local Government organ of the party in Oru East. Conclusively, the State Working Committee satisfied with the procedures and decision of Omuma Ward, hereby affirm the expulsion order as well.

“We are saving the party, we have an election in three weeks time and we cannot allow our governorship candidate to be sponsoring opposition candidates. We will no longer recognize Senator Hope Uzodinma as our governorship candidate because he is no longer a member of our party.

“We will not allow one candidate to jeopardize the chances of our other candidates who are vying for various positions across the state. We have communicated the National Working Committee of our party on our decision and we have also instructed all APC members in the state not to have anything to do with Senator Hope Uzodinma and his ambition forthwith,” he said.

Effort to get the reaction of the expelled candidate was unsuccessful as at press time.

senatordave1:
When i say orji Kali will heavily defeat him and deliver buhari in Abia north,you guys will argue.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is twice better than President Muhammadu Buhari, former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said.

Mr Obasanjo stated this in an interview he granted BBC Pidgin. Punch Newspapers published the report on its website.

This comes days after Messrs Obasanjo and Buhari renewed their political battle. The former president had supported the president prior to the 2015 general election but has asked him not to seek a second term in office on account of incompetence, nepotism among others.

At the start of the latest battle, the former president accused the president of plotting to rig the forthcoming general election.

Obasanjo cited the controversial appointment of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officer and the recent plot to oust Walter Onnoghen, Nigeria’s Justice Chief, as case study while passing a vote of no confidence on the electoral body.

Buhari, in turn, denied the allegation promising to teach the former president and his allies a political lesson they would never forget.

“What I am saying is that where we are today; our present situation, if you look at those who are there today and our boss (Buhari), I insist that Atiku will do better than them,” the news medium quoted Obasanjo as saying.

“I did not say he (Atiku) will behave like Jesus. I did not say he will behave like Prophet Muhammed, but he will do better, in fact twice better than what we have at present,” he said.

While mocking the corruption war of the present administration, the former president said today’s government officials if exposed will not only rot behind bars but will go to the perpetual fire beneath the earth.

“This is not a prophecy. Those in government today, if we expose them, all of them will enter hell; they will not only go to jail. They will go to hell. Whoever that God does not expose his sins to the public is the person whose secret is kept,” he added.

Theophilus Danjuma, former Defence Minister, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) plans to use security operatives to rig the forthcoming general election.

Mr Danjuma made the allegation on Tuesday at the inauguration of a medical laboratory at the Rufkatu Danjuma Maternity Hospital in Takum, his hometown in Taraba state.

“We must work hard for peace in addition to just registering and obtaining our permanent voter cards,” the former minister said.


“There is no need to fight one another because they will use the police and soldiers to destabilise us and rig the elections.

“It is in our best interest to ensure there is peace. Those behind this plot know that they will not win elections if there is peace. I want to call on you not to sell your votes because you will be selling your birthright if you do so,” he added.

Mr Buhari who seeks a second term in office has been severally accused of plotting to use security agencies to rig himself into office.

Aside Danjuma’s allegation, former president, Olusegun Obasanjo recently reiterated similar claim while passing a vote of no confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also made same allegation.

A political activists, Deji Adeyanju, who led a protest demanding the neutrality of security operatives as the nation elects it’s leaders next month has been kept behind bars till after the election.

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, does not have the right to complain about election rigging.

This comes a day after the former Lagos State governor told the former Nigerian leader to shut up because he has expired in Nigerian Politics.

The former president had on Sunday, while addressing Nigerians on the state of the nation, renewed his political battle with President Muhammadu Buhari. He had asked the president not to seek re-election against on account of incompetence, nepotism among others.

In his Sunday’s address, he alleged that the president was planning to rig the forthcoming general election.

Obasanjo cited the controversial appointment of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officer and the recent plot to oust Walter Onnoghen, Nigeria’s Justice Chief, as case study while passing a vote of no confidence on the electoral body.

Reacting in a statement titled ‘Chief Obasanjo – At War Against His Own Deeds’ on Tuesday, the APC top official said the Obasanjo has no right to complain about election rigging.

He said this is because the former president is a known election rigger who rigs without peer.

“…Chief Obasanjo should be the last to complain about election rigging,” Tinubu said.

“Chief Obasanjo is the person most responsible for the flaws in the Nigerian political economy since 1999. His ego is as expansive as the firmament but his good deeds would fit into a modest sachet with ample room to spare.

“The worst of Obasanjo’s record, I have yet to describe. When it comes to elections, he has been a rigger without peer.

“There is no election which occurred under Obasanjo’s watch or in which he participated that did not involve cheating on his part. Even the late President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua admitted he was the beneficiary of a flawed election engineered by none other than today’s vociferous complainant.

“For Obasanjo to lament over electoral malpractice is tantamount to the ocean complaining that a few raindrops are causing it to get wet.

“In his writing, Obasanjo alleges the Osun election indicates rigging will take place in the coming contests. Let’s go straight to the truth, Obasanjo has no grievance with the process. His personal history suggests fair process is the least of his concerns.

“What knocks Obasanjo off kilter is that he could not dictate the result in Osun. He told those in the PDP that he held sway in Osun and throughout the Southwest. They believed him. He led them to defeat notwithstanding the almost impossible voter turnout in PDP strongholds in that state. Obasanjo can only win an election when has the final say over the final vote tally. Otherwise, he is a troubled man,” the former governor said.

Shehu Sani, lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari against probing former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mr Sani gave the advise on Tuesday in a tweet on his Twitter handle.

The latest political battle between messrs Obasanjo and Buhari started on Sunday with the former accusing the latter of planning to rig the forthcoming general election.

The president, in return, promised to teach the former president and his cohorts a political lesson they won’t forget throughout their life time on planet earth.

Prior to the latest feud, Mr Buhari had accused Obasanjo of looting $16bn on power projects during his reign without corresponding power supply to Nigerians.

This came after Obasanjo advised him not to seek a second term in office on account of sheer incompetence, nepotism among others.

The former president while claiming that previous investigations on the allegation carried out by separate bodies did not indict him challenged the president to also carry out his own investigation.

For the Kaduna lawmaker, the president should be careful because names of most of his allies would crop up if the matter is investigated again.

“If you decide to open & probe the Kitchen and the food store left by Obj because of his bitter leaf letters,you will see the names of many people on your dining table today,the table manners and the cutlery they used for his spaghetti is the same they are using for your noodles,” Sani said.

As at press time, it is unclear if the president has ordered the matter be investigated again.

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has told Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to shut up over his rigging allegation.

Mr Obasanjo had on Sunday raised alarm that President Muhammadu Buhari was planning to rig the forthcoming general election.

He cited the controversial appointment of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officer and the recent plot to oust Walter Onnoghen, Nigeria’s Justice Chief, as case study while passing a vote of no confidence on the electoral body.


The former president who helped the present government rose to power has endorsed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Messrs Buhari and Abubakar are major candidates for the election. The president who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC, handed over his campaign structure to Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State.

While Buhari has promised to politically deal with Obasanjo, Tinubu asked the former president to keep quiet because he is an expired politician.

“You can hear the other expired leaders like Obasanjo, ranting and lying. Don’t believe him, don’t trust him. He is expired,” the former governor said at the presidential rally of the APC which held in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, on Monday.

“With the sign of senility experienced by our dear brother, Uncle Obasanjo, I think Ota should be enough a retirement place to keep quiet,” Tinubu said.

Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation Minister, has described Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, as the only patriotic Nigerian he has seen on earth.

Mr Amaechi made the claim in the latest version of audio clips in which his voice was heard on recently.

The latest version was released by ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri, who has described himself as the tormentor of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

In previous clips, the minister was heard criticizing his principal as one who do not adhere to advise not care about public opinions about his administration.

He was also heard saying for the country to be better all living beings needs to be killed.

Describing Nigerians as cowards, Amaechi said he does not believe the country can change for the better.

“I don’t think Nigeria can change, a lot of Nigerians are cowards. You know why Nigeria can’t change, it’s that the elites… and a lot of you are either elites or potential elites,” Amaechi said in the latest clip.

“You are not Nigerians. The only Nigerian I have seen on earth is Obasanjo. Hate him, like him, he is not a Yoruba man, he is not an Hausa man, He can be a criminal, He can be stealing money but he loves Nigeria,” the minister added.

Obasanjo who had endorsed Buhari during the 2015 general election but has kicked against the president’s ambition to run for a second term on account of incompetence has accused the Nigerian Leader of plotting to rig the election with state-owned agencies.

Buhari in turn has promised to
politically tutor the former president a lesson he was not going to forget during his stay on earth.

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to politically tutor former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, a lesson he will never forget.

Mr Buhari stated this while responding to the latest attack Mr Obasanjo launched on him.

For boycotting the presidential debate slated yesterday for presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nothing to offer.

The above remark is the reaction of the All Progressive Congress (APC) while reacting to the protest by the former vice president yesterday.

Mr Abubakar had returned from his United States trip in a bid to engage Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC who seeks a second term in office. The duo are major contestants in the next month’s presidential poll.


The former number two citizen popularly known as Atiku arrived Nigeria and headed for the debate only to realise his major contender, Mr Buhari would not be attending. This forced him to backtrack, insisting the contest is squarely between him and the president in a debate that had five participants.

Although some Nigerians has condemned his withdrawal, the PDP flag-bearer has challenged the APC candidate to a fresh debate.

The challenge, the APC refused to confirm if it has accepted a fresh debate.

For the ruling party, the action shows the PDP candidate has nothing to offer. The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated this while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.

“There was supposed to be a debate put up on Saturday, but I understand that Atiku cowardly ran away, even though he was at the venue of the debate. It was actually a pointer to the fact that the man who has been going about in the country seeking for mandate to be our president has absolutely nothing to offer,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.

“You do know that in the past, just four years ago, when this opportunity was presented to President Buhari as a candidate seeking the mandate of Nigerians, he confidently and courageously came up, seized the momentum and spoke to us about his vision and mission for this country. He made promises and even though the sitting president at that time did not come, President Buhari did not run away like a coward that Atiku is.

“It is very disappointing and arrogant for Atiku to take the other candidates at the debate as people that did not matter. For him, it was only President Buhari that matters. We thought that even if that was the case, it ought to be about the policies and programmes of the president.

“The president’s absence would have given him the opportunity to tear the policies and programmes into pieces. He would have told Nigerians why it is bad for Mr President to commission Baro Port earlier that day which was a pipedream for 16 years under the PDP.

“He would have told Nigerians why all the abandoned projects now completed by the APC is not the way to go. He should have told us why the market women that are the new queens don’t deserve it because they are not his friends and that they are not supposed to be rich,” he said.

adioolayi:
Buhari is UNSTOPPABLE.

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has arrived Nigeria from the United States.

Mr Abubakar had gone to the US for a town hall meeting and to also engage officials of that country in talks.

The visit is also seen in some quarters as a step to absolve himself from allegations of corruption involving him in that country.

The return of the former vice president popularly known as Atiku was announced by his media aide, Paul Ibe.

“The Eagle @atiku has landed from his U.S trip.” Mr Ibe posted on his Twitter handle.

POLITICS TIMES as at press time could not ascertain which of the airport the PDP candidate used in landing.

Already, the federal government has advised the PDP flag-bearer to warm up to answer to a fresh allegation of corruption against him.

He is accused of benefiting from slush funds that pulled down Bank PHB, now known as Keystone Bank.

Atiku has described the allegations as a cook and bull story.

He also withdrew participation from presidential debate scheduled to hold later in the day.