The All Progressives Congress
(APC) has insisted that Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), must
face trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
In a statement, Lanre Issa-Onilu,
national publicity secretary of the APC, attempt by the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to designate the CJN’s trials along ethnic and religious lines
would do the country no good.
Issa-Onilu said the opposition
party has been criticising an issue that should be left for the court to
resolve.
“Following the notice of the
charges preferred against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter
Onnoghen, by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the
Peoples Democratic Party has been on overdrive vituperating over an issue that should
at best be left to the judiciary to resolve,” the statement read.
“We noticed the attempt to
designate the CJN’s arraignment along ethnic and religious lines, thereby
trying to heat up the polity by evoking primordial sentiment which would do the
country no good.
“We therefore urge all Nigerians
of good conscience to caution the PDP as the country is bigger than any
political party or the interest it represents, and nothing should stop the
country’s steady march into sustainable democratic governance.
“The call by the PDP’s South
South Governors for the CJN’s boycott of the CCT trial further cements our
position. Let it be reiterated that nobody no matter how highly placed should
be above the laws of the land.
“We wish to put on record that
the virulent attack that has come from the PDP in the wake of the trial of the
CJN over alleged false asset declaration is particularly worrisome and
suspicious when the PDP has in fact called for the removal of virtually all
heads of government’s arms, particularly the Chairman of Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector General of the Police over frivolous
issues.
“While we will not be drawn into
debates on the legality and sponsored conspiracies of the CCT trial, we insist
that our democratic and constitutional institutions must be allowed to operate
without interference and undue pressure from partisan and sundry interests as
being done by the PDP and its cronies.
“The CCT trial is a legal matter,
let the law run its course. The CJN must go through the instrumentalities of
the courts, more importantly as an institution he represents. Indeed, this is
the true test of our constitution, rule of law and will deepen democracy.”
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