Opposition political parties have described the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari as a judicial coup that must be resisted by all lovers of democracy.
In a statement signed by Spokesperson of the Coalition of Opposition Parties, CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere, the body maintained that Buhari had overthrown constitutional governance.
It described the newly sworn in Acting Chief Justice, Tanko Mohammed as “a usurper,” calling on the National Judicial Commission, NJC, to sack him.
CUPP also called on the Senate to reconvene immediately and start impeachment processes against the President for “acting against the provision of the Constitution he swore to uphold.”
Read below the full statement.
Onnoghen’s suspension: A judicial coup
..Buhari has finally overthrown constitutional governance
..Onnoghen remains CJN and Nigerians will continue to recognise him as such.
..Move aimed at stopping the swearing in of members of the 2019 general election petition tribunal.
..We have been vindicated on our earlier alarm that Buhari wants to appoint pro APC CJN to help use the judiciary to affirm APC candidates in the 2019 pre and post election litigation
..lawyers , judges, judicial staffs must shut down the courts now.
…activists and lovers of democracy must troop out and fight with their last blood till this coup against democracy is neutralised.
…NBA should call out all lawyers now
Opposition political parties view the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari as a judicial coup that must be resisted by all lovers of democracy.
Buhari has finally overthrown constitutional governance. This factionalisation of the judiciary will not stand.
As far as the law of the land is concerned, Onnoghen remains the CJN. We will not recognise any other person who may be occupying that office illegally. Justice Tanko Muhammed us an usurper. The NJC must sack him. Lawyers must ignore him as long as he remains on that seat.
The CJN can be removed from office either if he has been convicted or if under section 291 and 292 of the constitution, the Senate affirms a request by the President to remove him by two-third majority vote. Buhari have dared Nigerians. The filled a charge at CCT with a hurriedly put petition we kept quiet , they filled a motion to remove him from the tribunal but the Appeal court restrained them and just few hours to the inauguration of the supreme court election panel that will hear pre and post 2019 election , the emperor crushed the constitution and overthrow the leadership of the supreme court and appointed his stooge.
Onnoghen’s illegal removal was aimed at stopping the swearing in of members of the 2019 general election petition tribunal.
We have been vindicated on our earlier alarm that Buhari wants to appoint pro-APC CJN to help use the judiciary to affirm APC candidates in the 2019 pre and post election litigation.
READ ALSO: Nigerians on twitter react to Onnoghen’s suspension
We hereby call on lawyers, judges and judicial staffs to downtool immediately. This is the last battle and it must be won. The NBA should immediately call out all lawyers. All courts must be shut now while nationwide protest against this impunity should also commence.
The CJN must remain in office and disregard this announcement as the President has no power to suspend him.
The Senate should reconvene now and start impeachment process against the President for acting against the provision of the Constitution he swore to uphold.
Buhari has shown with this development that he is the most cruel and barbaric President Nigeria ever had.
A man who rode to power on the basis of respect for the rule law and fundamental principles of democracy has chosen to play to the gallery of dictatorship to right elections. Let see how it goes.
But we know that this is going to be the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. The democratic institutions will fight back. Trust me it is the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. Out of adversity comes strength.
