BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the Nigerian Senate has dissociated itself from the decision of some senators to challenge the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen at the Supreme Court.
In distancing itself from the case, the APC Caucus, through its leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan faulted the move, insisting that the upper legislative chamber never met to take a decision on such course of action.
According to the Senate Leader; “The Senate never met to take such resolution and at no time mandated anyone to approach the Supreme Court on this matter on its behalf.
“Consequently, the Senate APC caucus dissociates itself from the said request for the legal interpretation of the suspension.”
Below is the full statement by Senator Lawan:
“It has come to the notice of the Senate APC caucus that the Senate has approached the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
“For the records, the Senate never met to take such resolution and at no time mandated anyone to approach the Supreme Court on this matter on its behalf.
“Consequently, the Senate APC caucus dissociates itself from the said request for the legal interpretation of the suspension.”
In the heat of contentious arguments over President Buhari’s suspension of Justice Onnoghen as Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), the Senate on Monday cancelled its planned emergency plenary scheduled for Tuesday and instead resolved to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the action.
A statement by Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the Senate filed has approached the Supreme Court, seeking its interpretation on whether President Muhammadu Buhari acted within the provisions of the constitution.
He said the Senate is; “Seeking whether the action of the President does amount to usurpation of the powers of the Senate as provided for in Section 292 of the constitution.”
The statement further added that; “Following the filing of the case, the matter of the suspension of the CJN which is the main issue for which the Senate had planned to reconvene tomorrow, has become sub-judiced.”
