Onnoghen’ Saga: Appeal Court Silences Critics – BMO
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Court of Appeal’s decision that suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen must face trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has vindicated the position taken by President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) said the Court order not only justifies the action by the Presidency, but also re-affirms that Justice Onnoghen has a case to answer at the Tribunal.
For the BMO, the ruling has also confirmed that the CCT has powers to entertain the case as well as make an order for the CJN’s suspension pending the conclusion of the case.
In a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, the BMO said the ruling, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, further affirms that: “the call by Paul Usoro (SAN), President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for lawyers to boycott the Courts was done in error.
According to the statement, that NBA’s directive indicates that the man, who currently heads the Bar, is not conversant with basic principles of the rule of law and does not appreciate the issue of jurisdiction of courts to such matters.
“We also commend the various NBA branches that did not heed the senseless call for a boycott, but went ahead to attend court sessions and honour their clients and the temple of justice.
“This also shows that Paul Usoro has lost his credibility in the NBA due to his proclivity to defend corruption and stand for what is wrong, a characteristic that should not be synonymous with the Nigerian Bar Association”, the BMO said.
The statement therefore urged the NBA President to recuse himself from membership of the National Judicial Council (NJC), insisting that a man who is standing trial on alleged corruption should not be found deciding the fate of others with similar moral burdens.
Calling out Mr Usoro for bringing disrepute to the association, the BMO said the NBA was sadly becoming an institution of ridicule because of the tainted leadership of its President.
“This should not be so as the association is made up of thousands of members with honour and integrity who should not be identified with corruption”, the group said.
It expressed disappointment that the embattled President was now using the NBA as a tool to fight anti-graft agencies, adding; “Paul Usoro, a man facing serious allegations of corruption in the court is now using the Nigerian Bar Association to fight the institutions constitutionally mandated to fight corruption, including the courts.
“His kangaroo instruction to legal practitioners to boycott the courts was not just embarrassing and unfortunate; it was a mockery and an insult to the legal profession. Asides the fact that lawyers owe it as a duty to represent their clients in courts, they are not meant to insult their practice and the temples of justice by boycotting the courts.”
To the BMO, the call by Usoro for lawyers to boycott court sessions was indeed corruption fighting back, even as it accused Usoro of having a damaged reputation, and therefore lacking moral authority to lead the Nigerian Bar Association.
The group said in the circumstance, it would be difficult for the NBA to shake off the toga of corruption-infested body with the Usoro leadership firmly at the helm of its affairs.
