••• I wasn’t part of Abba Kyari meeting –Olanipekun

The Supreme Court has fixed Tuesday for the hearing of the suit filed by the Senate to challenge the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt on Saturday that the suit, being a constitutional matter, would be heard by a full panel of seven Justices of the Supreme Court.

It is expected that the Acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, would not be on the seven-man bench, but he would be the one to pick the seven Justices of the apex court to hear the suit or assign it to one of the already existing panels.

Our correspondent learnt that the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had, as of Saturday, prepared its defence and would file it on Monday ahead of the Tuesday’s hearing.

“We have been served with the Supreme Court’s hearing notice. Our defence is ready and we will file it on Monday,” one of the sources, who pleaded not to be named, told one of our correspondents on Saturday.

The Senate’s lawyer, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN), could not be reached on Saturday, as his phone was switched off.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, on January 25, suspended Onnoghen on the basis of an ex parte order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal where the Federal Government had charged the CJN with six counts of non-declaration of assets.

The President had immediately sworn in the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Muhammad, as the Acting CJN.

But the Senate had, in its suit filed on January 28, and marked SC.76/2019, asked the apex court to declare Onnoghen’s suspension, which was without the support of two-thirds majority of the Senate, was a violation of Section 292(1)(a)(i) of the Constitution.

It asked Supreme Court for an order reinstating Justice Onnoghen as the CJN.

The suit also asked the apex court to issue an order restraining the two defendants in the suit – President Buhari and the AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami – from continuing or repeating the violation of the Constitution and disregarding the power of the Senate in respect to the suspension of the CJN

The Senate, through its lawyer, Erokoro, argued that the President could not, on the directive of the CCT, suspend the CJN without the two-thirds majority of the Senate or appoint Muhammad as the Acting CJN without Senate’s confirmation.

I wasn’t part of Abba Kyari meeting –Olanipekun

Meanwhile, the lead counsel for the suspended CJN, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), says he did not hold any meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on Thursday.


Olanipekun, who is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said he did not know if there was a meeting between Kyari and some persons representing Onnoghen.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on Saturday, however, Olanipekun said if such a meeting held, he was not part of it.

The senior advocate added, “I have never met with Abba Kyari before. I only know him by reputation as the President’s chief of staff but I have never sat with him before. It is possible that some lawyers met with him but I was not among.”


Olanipekun, however, defended his decision to defend the suspended CJN.

He said he believed democratic institutions should be preserved and insulated from politics, vowing to continue to defend them.

The former NBA President said, “My decision to defend the CJN is not for personal gain but for the good of democracy. I strongly believe in the independence of the three arms of government and the rule of law.


“It is for the sake of democracy that I am taking up this case and when the case is over, I will speak extensively but for now, I will refrain from making further comments. Let it be on record that I, Wole Olanipekun, never met with Abba Kyari.”

Some lawyers were said to have met with Kyari last week in a bid to prevent the trial of Onnoghen before the CCT on Monday.


Culled From The Punch Newspaper


https://punchng.com/onnoghen-to-ask-cct-chair-to-disqualify-self-for-alleged-fraud/

Op didn't I tell u dat d said meeting with kyari is APC lies.

don't u think now that olanipekun has spoken u need to retrace ur steps

The Supreme court is allowing Justice Tanko Carry out the functions of the CJN.


HMMMM

Finally, Onnoghen team of SANs has failed to stop proceedings on Monday. I actually didn't know why they were scared in the first place.

Monday is it!

I also like the noninvolvement of the acting CJN. He's left out of the process and it's cool.

That way decisions cannot be influenced and Nigerian people can see its transparency.

Filed by the Senate President or the Senate? Where did the Senate take the resolution?

Please, Reframe your topic to reflect the True Situation, Mr.

So the Olanipekun is fighting for a corrupt CJN and calls it a fight for the future of Democracy! Jokers!

lawless country, same acting cjn selected by the president will still be the one to do the same seven-man selection. is this an action movie or real life ?

CoolVoice:
So the Olanipekun is fighting for a corrupt CJN and calls it a fight for the future of Democracy! Jokers!

That's what they always say they're fighting for to attract national and international pity.

What's democratic in defending an obvious looter? It's just baffling where our lawyers stand sometimes in court.

Well, it's not new, even Evans the kidnapper have a lawyer that represents him.

Mynd44:
The Supreme court is allowing Justice Tanko Carry out the functions of the CJN.


HMMMM

I don’t understand oo... with all their mouth and power they claim they have

Exercise in futility

Onnoghen is a goner. He is just a fraud and time waster.

slivertongue:
Op didn't I tell u dat d said meeting with kyari is APC lies.

don't u think now that olanipekun has spoken u need to retrace ur steps

That he was not part of the meeting does not mean that the meeting did not hold. He may have sanctioned it but declined to attend for strategic reasons. Besides the report that a meeting actually held is everywhere first carried by The Nation Newspaper on Thursday, then Punch, Newtelegraph of Saturday and Vanguard Newspaper of today. All these media outlets can't all be wrong at the same time.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/presidency-in-dilemma-over-nbas-lobby-to-drop-charges-against-onnoghen/

There's nothing much to say other than all of them are mad

Mynd44:
The Supreme court is allowing Justice Tanko Carry out the functions of the CJN.


HMMMM

Exactly my thoughts.

If d Supreme Court fails to adress this illegality.

We can therefore say goodbye to Judiciary.

Why would he b d one to appoint judges in a matter he is a party of?

The competency of this senate suit will be challenged because it was not made pursuant to any resolution of the National Assembly, as stipulated by law. Meanwhile, Onnoghen should just go already. Haba.

CapitanPan:
The competency of this senate suit will be challenged because it was not made pursuant to any resolution of the National Assembly, as stipulated by law. Meanwhile, Onnoghen should just go already. Haba.

Do u even know d implications of Onoghen going just like that?

SENATE PRESIDENT can equally wake up one day , manufacture one court Order and suspend the President?

He can tell us that he was only obeying court order.

This illegality must be restricted by all.well.thinking Nigerian.

If he is guilty of any charge, the rule of law must be followed to ascertain that.

Laws are Laws, without them we are savages.

slivertongue:
Op didn't I tell u dat d said meeting with kyari is APC lies.

don't u think now that olanipekun has spoken u need to retrace ur steps

Wole has been one of the crooked SAN, Just like Ricky Tarfa.

artofseduction:

Do u even know d implications of Onoghen going just like that?

SENATE PRESIDENT can equally wake up.one day and suspend the President?

This illegality must be restricted by all.well.thinking Nigerian.

If he is guilty of any charge, the rule of law must be followed to ascertain that.

Laws are Laws, without them we are savages.

No be so. Senate can't suspend President without a valid court order. CJN should be challenging the CCT exparte order that was the basis of his suspension. It was that same order that the President based his suspension on.

artofseduction:

Do u even know d implications of Onoghen going just like that?

SENATE PRESIDENT can equally wake up one day , manufacture one court Order and suspend the President?

He can tell us that he was only obeying court order.

This illegality must be restricted by all.well.thinking Nigerian.

If he is guilty of any charge, the rule of law must be followed to ascertain that.

Laws are Laws, without them we are savages.

like GEj suspending CBN Governor and also preventing him from traveling. CBN Governor like CJN are appointed by the president too, just like EFCC chairman.

See below. It's same situation with the CJN. He's the chairman of NJC and would not sit to adjudicate on a matter that concerns him

I Have Absolute Powers To Suspend Sanusi – Jonathan
the President said the CBN Act was an anomaly because the CBN governor is the Chief Executive Officer and at the same time the Chairman of the CBN board.

those supreme court judges are very stubborn. what if they rule in favour of Senate----

davodyguy:
like GEj suspending CBN Governor and also preventing him from traveling. CBN Governor like CJN are appointed by the president too, just like EFCC chairman

judiciary is an independent arm of government. cbn is not. cbn is directly under executive arm of government. judiciary us not under executive.

kahal29:



That he was not part of the meeting does not mean that the meeting did not hold. He may have sanctioned it but declined to attend for strategic reasons. Besides the report that a meeting actually held is everywhere first carried by The Nation Newspaper on Thursday, then Punch, Newtelegraph of Saturday and Vanguard Newspaper of today. All these media outlets can't all be wrong at the same time.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/presidency-in-dilemma-over-nbas-lobby-to-drop-charges-against-onnoghen/

If Onnoggen's defence team who represents him are not part of the allege negotiations then who else is representing him without his consent and authority.Remember I told you i dont take this news stories quoting anonymous sources serious

davodyguy:
Wole has been one of the crooked SAN, Just like Ricky Tarfa.

the same wole that defended buhari certificate with 1 million SANs in 2015.

CapitanPan:
The competency of this senate suit will be challenged because it was not made pursuant to any resolution of the National Assembly, as stipulated by law. Meanwhile, Onnoghen should just go already. Haba.

Lol dream on bro.The decision was taken by a majority of the senate principal officers.

capitalzero:


judiciary is an independent arm of government. cbn is not. cbn is directly under executive arm of government. judiciary us not under executive.

Nope, go and read the CBN act. That's where guys are getting it worth, all in a bid to justify Jonathan's action.

The CBN has a board, just like NJC, headed by CJN. Issues relating to discipline of members are exclusive of the board of CBN, same way NJC.

Jonathan acted ultra vires by claiming anomaly in CBN, same thing is what Buhari did

capitalzero:
those supreme court judges are very stubborn. what if they rule in favour of Senate----

They will surely rule in the favour of the rule of law.

artofseduction:


Exactly my thoughts.

If d Supreme Court fails to adress this illegality.

We can therefore say goodbye to Judiciary.

Why would he b d one to appoint judges in a matter he is a party of?

I think that is a speculation.From the writeup the journalist is not sure.