Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, has commended Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for her decisive actions in resolving the injustices faced by one of her predecessors, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Clark, a 2nd Republic Senator, a former minister and former secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, Warri branch, commended the CJN through a heart-rending open letter.
In the letter made available to Channels Television in Abuja on Sunday, Clark described the Onnoghen’s removal as CJN by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 as a shame, adding that it was “so disgraceful, callous, unjust and so barbaric.”
“I have today decided to extol the Chief Justice of Nigeria for resolving into finality the humiliation meted to the brilliant former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,” Clark said.
The elder statesman recalled that it is his second open letter to Kekere-Ekun, praising her for her appointment as CJN following Justice Olukayode Ariwoola’s tenure, which he said was “leading us deep into unknown destination.”
Clark stated, “Nigerians are behind you and they are praying for you every day because without an efficient and incorruptible judiciary, Nigeria will end up as a failed country.”
Underscoring the importance of cleaning up the judiciary, Clark noted that “Many Nigerians since then have congratulated you for starting the serious and genuine clean-up of the Nigerian Judiciary including all its associates because you believe it has been your home for years. You must clean it up and Nigerians are behind you and they are praying for you everyday because without an efficient and incorruptible judiciary, Nigeria will end up as a failed country.”
Clark went on the criticise Buhari for his action against Onnoghen which he insisted remains “a shame which Nigeria has just recovered from.”
He added, “Is it not disgraceful and unpatriotic to invite such person to council of state meetings, public functions or any government functions, pretending these were good Head of State and President of Nigeria? No.
“I was much concerned about the injustice that was being executed by President Buhari with impunity. To humiliate a whole Chief Justice of Nigeria, another tier of the government, must be condemned and infact brought to trial in the law court for this unpatriotic act.”
According to Clark, Buhari saw Onnoghen’s principled stance and independence as a threat to his second-term bid, which made his removal a calculated move.
Clark advised President Bola Tinubu’s government not allow sacred cows to exist in Nigeria no matter whose ox is gored.
In the closing part of his letter, expressed joy at reports of settlement between Onnoghen and the judiciary.
“I am therefore very happy to have read that both the judiciary, particularly the Court of Appeal and the former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen have come to an amicable settlement and I wholeheartedly congratulate him for passing out the ordeal he was subjected to by the former President and I pray God will protect him and for him to always have the courage to fight for his right because Nigeria belongs to all of us and we are all equal citizens.”
On November 4, the Court of Appeal in Abuja discharged and acquitted Justice Onnoghen from his conviction of false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The conviction of Onnoghen was thrown out by the appellate court following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.
Delivering judgment, the Presiding Justice, Justice Abba Mohammed, adopted the terms of settlement between the federal government and Onnoghen.
He also ordered that the four bank accounts of the former CJN forfeited be returned to him.
