Onnoghen suspension height of lawlessness, greatest threat to democratic rule – Ijaw Youth Council

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has described the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari as the greatest threat to democratic rule in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its President, Eric Omare on Friday, the group added that the development was a coup against the nation’s democracy and rule of law and height of lawlessness in the country.

It further described the suspension and appointment of Justice Tanko Muhammed as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria as a show of desperation and lack of respect for the rule of law.

“This is desperation taken too far and the IYC in the strongest terms condemn this display of impunity by President Buhari. This is the height of lawlessness and the greatest threat to democratic rule in Nigeria. The IYC call on President Buhari to immediately reverse this illegal, despicable and undemocratic decision.

“We also call on Nigerians and all lovers of democracy, all over the world to rise up and defend our democracy in Nigeria. Anti-democratic forces who truncated democracy in the past must not be allowed to truncate democracy again.

READ ALSO: ONNOGHEN’s SUSPENSION: PDP kicks, says Buhari killing democracy

“This is a coup against democracy and the rule of law. Nigeria is under a constitutional democracy that is governed by the rule of law and the action by President Buhari lacks foundation in law.

“President Buhari lacks the powers to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria without the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and It is even unthinkable to suspend Justice Onnoghen in the light of the multiple valid and subsisting orders of the National Industrial court, federal high court and the court of appeal which bars the Code of Conduct Tribunal from going on with the trial of Justice Onnoghen.

“President Buhari claimed to have acted pursuant to an order of the CCT made on the 23rd of January, 2019, however, from the records of proceedings of the CCT, no such order was made. The pending motions are yet to be taken hence it is surprising for the President to be relying on a non-existing order,” Omare said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now