Onnoghen

A human right activist, Mr Modibbo Bakare, has urged Nigerians to thread with caution in order to avoid the politicisation of the case filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen.

Bakare told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Abuja, that some Nigerians were making unguarded utterances that the ongoing case against Onnoghen was a plot to remove him from office.

“The CJN belongs to all Nigerians, it is not about sectionalism and he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise as contained in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental human rights of an individual,’’ he said.

Modibbo advised the public to allow the rule of law to take its course.

According to him, the matter is before a competent court of jurisdiction, because the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been given the responsibility to entertain matters relating to false assets declaration.

He said the National Judicial Council should not be entertaining the case because its jurisdiction was on matters regarding failure of officers of the law to discharge their judicial responsibility.

NAN reports that an Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), an NGO, had on Jan. 7, filed the petition against Onnoghen, who was charged to the tribunal on Jan. 14.

NAN further reports that the six-count charge had among other things accused Onnoghen of violating the CCB/CCT Act by engaging in false and non-declaration of his assets.

NAN reports that a total of 45 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and 55 members of the outer-bar were in court to represent the CJN.