…Urges Buhari To Revisit 2014 Confab on Appointment of Judiciary Officers
From Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
Kwara State gubernatorial candidate under Labour Party (LP) platform, Comrade Issa Aremu has given credence to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari over non declaration of assets as stipulated by law. .
He stated this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, saying that the recent suspension of Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari is on course.
Aremu added that the suspension was purportedly based on an interim order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over allegations of corruption.
He however call for a critical evaluation of the administration of justice in Nigeria rather than what he called “on going partisan diatribes” and heated controversies over what is right or not.
LP candidate also advised that rather than agonizing over the trial and suspension of the Justice Onnoghen, all stakeholders in the Judiciary sector and Nigerian democracy must organize to safe the administration of justice from perception of corruption, double standards and self-help.
Quoting from a statement entitled: Judiciary On Trial: Justice Mustapha Akanbi And Gani Fawehinmi At Times Like This, comrade Aremu observed that given the importance of rule of law, equity and justice to a sustainable democracy, more than ever before , Nigerian judiciary needed reform and restructuring as a precondition for the transformation of Nigeria from corruption and underdevelopment to development and prosperity.
Recalling the steadfastness and principled positions of late Justice Mustapha Akanbi, the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Ommision ( ICPC) and human rights lawyer, Gani Fahemihin on Judicial Reform and fighting against corruption, Comrade Aremu wondered what would be the reactions of the late luminaries to the current developments in the judiciary sector.
According to him, “devil is in the technical details of the suspension of Mr Onnoghen” he said the substantive allegations and causal defense of the CJ fanning ’mistake’’ and “forgetfulness’’ on the imperative of assets declarations should be of concern to all.
“In a country that has been running huge budget deficits, it is curious that a public officer of CJ standing could have surplus accounts in millions of foreign currency” adding “that he who dispenses justice to all must be accountable for his or her source of wealth.”
He recalled that in his classic Book: Audacity of Hope, the former America President, Barack Obama noted that some countries like “ , Nigeria …have developed two legal systems — one for foreigners and elites, and one for ordinary people”. He hailed President Buhari who in his address on the CJ urged the need to fight corruption. Comrade Aremu also wondered why for whatever reason the head of the nation’s judiciary would be evading accountability by “shopping” for restraining court orders wondering what National Industrial court had to do with allegation of assets declaration.
The LP candidate who was also a labour delegate during the 2014 National Conference urges President Muhammed Buhari to revisit the recommendation of the confab with respect to appointment of judiciary.
He said the “process leading to and concerning the appointment of Judicial Officers should be advertised, done openly and transparently and essentially on merit.” . According to him what was also at stake on the CJ saga is character and morality of some public officers. Comrade Aremu advises that lawyers, especially Senior Advocates ( SANs) should defend justice not seeking “judgements” that favored the privileged in the society.
In the same spirit, Comrade Aremu said, the Nigeria Bar Association President, Paul Usoro who is being tried for allegations of corruption should resign. “At a time like this I wonder what would be the reaction of late Justice Mustapha Akanbi and Chief Gani Fawenhinmi. They would ask the NBA President to resign for him not to use his Bar status to pervert justice.” he observed.