Elder statesman Edwin Clark has praised Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for her decisive actions in addressing the injustices experienced by one of her predecessors, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Clark, a Senator from the 2nd Republic who also served as both a minister and former secretary of the Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, praised the CJN in an emotionally powerful open letter.
In a letter released to Channels Television in Abuja on Sunday, Clark characterized President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 dismissal of CJN Onnoghen as a disgrace. He further labeled the action as “disgraceful, callous, unjust and barbaric.”
“Clark announced today his decision to praise the Chief Justice of Nigeria for bringing a conclusive end to the humiliation faced by the esteemed former Chief Justice, Justice Walter Onnoghen.”
The senior statesman remembered that this is his second open letter to Kekere-Ekun, commending her on her appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria after Justice Olukayode Ariwoola’s term, which he described as “leading us into an uncertain future.”
Clark expressed, “Nigerians support you and pray for you daily. An efficient and incorruptible judiciary is essential; otherwise, Nigeria risks becoming a failed country.”
Highlighting the crucial need to reform the judiciary, Clark observed that “Numerous Nigerians have since praised you for initiating a sincere and thorough clean-up of the Nigerian Judiciary along with its affiliates. They recognize it as your long-time home, which must be purified. The people support and pray for you daily because without an effective and honest judiciary, Nigeria risks becoming a failed state.”
Clark went on to criticize Buhari for his actions against Onnoghen, describing it as “a disgrace that Nigeria has only recently recovered from.”
He stated, “Isn’t it disgraceful and unpatriotic to invite such an individual to council of state meetings, public functions, or any government events while pretending they were commendable as Head of State and President of Nigeria? No.”
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I was deeply troubled by the injustice President Buhari carried out with impunity. The act of humiliating an entire Chief Justice of Nigeria, a separate branch of government, should be condemned and brought to trial in court for such unpatriotic behavior.
According to Clark, Buhari perceived Onnoghen’s principled stance and independence as a threat to his bid for a second term, leading him to remove Onnoghen in what was seen as a calculated decision.
Clark advised President Bola Tinubu’s government to ensure that no one is treated above the law in Nigeria, regardless of who might be affected.
In the concluding section of his letter, he conveyed happiness about reports regarding a resolution between Onnoghen and the judiciary.
I am delighted to learn that both the judiciary, especially the Court of Appeal and former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, have reached an amicable settlement. I wholeheartedly congratulate him for overcoming the challenges he faced under the previous President. I pray that God will protect him and grant him courage to always stand up for his rights because Nigeria belongs to all of us as equal citizens.
On November 4, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned Justice Onnoghen’s conviction for false asset declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), discharging and acquitting him.
The appellate court overturned Onnoghen’s conviction after resolving the issues that prompted his trial and sentencing.
On January 25, 2019, approximately 29 days before the presidential election, former President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen from his role as Chief Justice of Nigeria and appointed Justice Tanko Muhammad, the next most senior jurist on the Supreme Court, as his successor to lead the judiciary.
In delivering the judgment, Presiding Justice Abba Mohammed approved the settlement terms agreed upon by both the federal government and Onnoghen.
He also directed that the four bank accounts previously forfeited by the former CJN be restored to him.
