Group condemns suspension of CJN

Onnoghen

A non-political group, United Nigeria Group (UNG), on Monday said the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), was “unconstitutional.”

The group’ s National spokesman, Dr Emenena Bright, said in a statement in Warri that the CJN suspension was “equated with suspending the constitution’’.

According to Bright, there is a procedure for the removal of CJN as written in the constitution. The suspension of Onnoghen did not follow due process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Onnoghen was accused of false declaration of his assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

He also called on the National Assembly to quickly reconvene and act fast constitutionally to prevent what it described as “constitutional crisis’’ in the country.

“The latest action of suspending the CJN can easily be equated with suspending the constitution.

“This act must be condemned by all well-meaning citizens, irrespective of their party affiliation, tribe, region or religion to protect our hard earned democracy,’’ Bright said.

He also said that the recent appointment of Amina Zakari as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Head of Collation Centres was wrong.

Bright lauded the International communities for their swift reactions to the suspension of Onnoghen as the CJN.