Elder statesman and former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, has berated former President Muhammadu Buhari over the latter’s 2019 removal of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.
Describing the action as a “shame” and “disgraceful,” Clark also commended the current CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for addressing the injustices meted out to her predecessor and restoring confidence in the judiciary.
In an open letter on Sunday, Clark, a Second Republic Senator, praised Justice Kekere-Ekun for her integrity and dedication to justice. “I have today decided to extol the Chief Justice of Nigeria for resolving into finality the humiliation meted to the brilliant former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,” he wrote.
Highlighting the importance of an independent judiciary, Clark stated: “Nigerians are behind you and they are praying for you every day because without an efficient and incorruptible judiciary, Nigeria will end up as a failed country.”
Clark criticised Buhari’s decision to remove Onnoghen from office as CJN, calling it “disgraceful, callous, unjust, and barbaric.” He argued that the move was a deliberate attempt to undermine judicial independence and diminish the credibility of the judiciary.
“Is it not disgraceful and unpatriotic to invite such person to council of state meetings, public functions, or any government functions, pretending these were good Head of State and President of Nigeria? No,” Clark wrote.
Reflecting on his concern for the rule of law, he added: “I was much concerned about the injustice that was being executed by President Buhari with impunity. To humiliate a whole Chief Justice of Nigeria, another tier of the government, must be condemned and in fact brought to trial in the law court for this unpatriotic act.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had recently discharged and acquitted Onnoghen on November 4, ruling against the false assets declaration charges brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
