Onnoghen’s Million-Man March Flops In C-River
- As 3 NBA branches want Malami out
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – It was long faces and disappointment for organizers of the ‘One Million Man Match’ packaged to drum up support for the suspended Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen in Cross River State as only scores of people turned out to grace the solidarity march.
Frustration hit the scanty crowd comprising mainly a few protesting lawyers and political jobbers, hoping to have their palms greased for participating in the poorly organised-rally considered a flop by many.
The groups, consisting of Cross River for Good Governance, (CRFGG); Arise For Onoghen, (AFO); and Friends of Atiku (FOA), had threatened to shut down Calabar with their ‘One-Million-Man-March’ to protest the CJN’s suspension.
As early as 7am, many people, including news hounds, were out in droves, with the event organizers, excited and expectant of a full house before the eventual commencement of activities at the popular ‘Eleven Eleven’ Roundabout slated as the proposed take off point.
However, expectations of a huge crowd soon turned into disillusionment as notable political figures or personalities in the state failed to show up for the wide-publicized march.
The organizers, mainly aides of State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, had banked on the fact that Cross River, as the embattled Chief Justice Onnoghen’s home state, would produce an unprecedented turn- out of concerned participants and well-wishers.
However, with some participants blaming poor and hasty packaging for the failed project, one of the organizers and a Special Adviser to the governor, Don Klemz Enamhe thanked those present at the protect march for abandoning their early morning engagements to demonstrate support for one of their illustrious sons
He urged Cross Riverians to remain calm and law abiding, claiming that high-level consultations are still ongoing on the way forward on the matter.
But commenting on the raging controversy over the CJN’s suspension, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state, Barrister Utum Eteng called for caution.
He noted that the embattled CJN was merely on suspension and not removed as portrayed by current propaganda on due process aimed at causing confusion and disaffection among Nigerians.
According to him, every public servant, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, under disciplinary stricture, is subject to suspension while facing investigation or trial for gross misconduct.
He appealed to the people not to misconstrue the Federal Government’s action as an affront against the State, adding that it is important to exercise restraint and patiently await the final outcome of the matter before drawing conclusions.
Malami must go – Lawyers
Meanwhile, the Calabar, Ikom and Ogoja branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Tuesday stormed the Governor’s office in Calabar, the State capital to demand the immediate resignation of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami over an alleged wrongful conduct
According to them, Malami’s decision to initiate proceedings against the nation’s top judicial officer without following due process clearly demonstrates his professional incompetence on the job.
Abandoning the courts in line with their National body’s directives, the legal practitioners, led by the Vice Chairman of NBA, Calabar Branch, Mr. Julius Idiege took to the streets demanding justice for the suspended CJN
At the Governor’s office, they presented a statement issued by the three branches following their emergency meeting held on Monday at the Cross River State judiciary headquarters in Calabar.
According to the Statement, “We are not convinced that the initiation of proceedings in the CCT by the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation is a reflection of his level of professional competence. We rather perceive the actions of the Attorney General to be dubious and blatant mischief, far below the person and the office of the Chief Law Office of the federation. We therefore call on the Honorable Attorney General to resign from his office to afford the President the opportunity of proper legal guidance in the conduct of State affairs.”
They further said; “We find the actions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal perfidious and fraudulent. The various infractions in the processes filed, and the conduct of proceedings by the CCT, reflect a gross abuse of court process and judicial rascality. Curious still is the fact that the Chairman of the CCT considered aforesaid ex-parte motion suo motu and granted the orders without the motion being moved by the applicant.”
In condemning the action taken by President Buhari, the NBA branches described the ex-parte motion relied upon as “a black market ex-parte order”, wondering why Justice Tanko Mohammed, “submitted himself to be sworn in as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, thereby subscribing to this abuse of the constitution.”
The lawyers therefore urged Justice Tanko to, “retrace his steps, decline any further pretensions to the office of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, and apologise to the legal community and the Nigerian people.”
Also, they advised President Buhari to “immediately retrace his steps,” and reinstate Justice Onnoghen in a bid to “preserve the constitution which he swore to uphold.”
For them; “Unless this abuse of the constitution is redressed immediately, the rule of law will be in jeopardy and this will drive the country towards anarchy. The constitution of Nigeria must remain supreme and sacrosanct.”
Receiving the protesting lawyers at the Governor House, the State Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu acknowledged their efforts in defending the constitutional provisions as regards the current development.
He said; “We’ve noted all the efforts you have made from the day this news broke to this point and we also have seen the reaction all over the country. I want to thank you sincerely and of course I’m not a lawyer, you know best. And we have been learning a lot about the constitution and every other thing since this story broke.”
Professor Esu promised to present their message to the Governor Ben Ayade for onward transmission to the President, who is expected in the state on Wednesday in continuation of the ongoing nationwide APC’s presidential campaign.
