CJN Blames Politicians For Lawlessness, Abuse Of Judicial Processes
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has identified impunity, lack of respect for the rule of law and general lawlessness in the polity among the vices plaguing the Nigerian nation.
He said politicians, who see themselves as sacred cows as well as those perpetuating impunity because they found themselves in positions of authority are the greatest culprits in abusing judicial processes and they must be checked to ensure a sanitized political system.
According to him, it has become imperative for all recalcitrant politicians and those that do not play by the rules to have a re-think as it would no longer be business as usual when engaging the judiciary in the justice processes.
Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Cross River government in Calabar, Justice Onnoghen said the era of impunity is over and Nigerians must imbibe the culture of good citizenship and patriotism at all times in order to escape the full wrath of the law.
He identified elective and appointed political office holders as the worst culprits when it comes to rule of law and doing the right things, especially in a fledging democratic setting like ours.
The CJN urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of being law abiding, stressing that the era of impunity is over as the judiciary is ready to promote and sustain the culture fair play, equity and justice in the country at all cost.
He thanked Nigerians for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment by the federal government and eventual the confirmation by the Senate, pledging to justify the high expectations of the general public in the judiciary.
In his remarks, the Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade described the Chief Justice Onnoghen as a worthy and illustrious son of the state whose appointment as Nigeria’s CJN has brought honour to the state.
He presented the Holy Bible to Justice Onnoghen on behalf of the people and government of Cross River even as he assured him that the state is solidly behind him as he keeps the flag flying in the nation’s judiciary.
