President Muhammadu Buhari says
he was reluctant to deal with Walter Onnoghen, former chief justice of Nigeria
(CJN).
The president had suspended the
ex-CJN before he was charged with false assets declaration at the Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Speaking when leaders of
Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, visited him on Tuesday, Buhari
said Onnoghen had to go because he acted in violation of the office he
occupied.
“I will tell you as Afenifere,
that I had to deal, though reluctantly, with the former chief justice because
there were millions of dollars, euros, not to talk of naira, which were not
declared,” he said.
“I wonder what sort of conscience
some of us have, how can you sit and preside and lock people up for years and
even sentence some to death and yet you are not doing what the constitution
says you should do by occupying that vital position.”
The president said his
administration is determined to recover stolen funds and properties within and
outside the country.
He said all the recovered
properties would be sold and the money put in the nation’s treasury to make it
impossible to return such properties to the looters in future.
“So, we are recovering as much as
we can under the system and this time around I said the properties will be sold
and the money put in the treasury,” he said.
“The last time they were given
back their properties but this time around whoever comes after me no matter how
generous he is, he cannot take money from the treasury give it to individuals,
it will be impossible.
“But anybody who cannot account
for what he has and for refusing to declare, we will have to do something about
it.”.
Olabiyi Durojaiye, a former
senator, who spoke on behalf of Afenifere, said the group was in the
presidential villa to rejoice with the president and the Vice-President Yemi
Osinbajo on their re-election.
Durojaiye also commended Buhari
for his recognition of June 12, describing it as a landmark in the political
history of Nigeria.
He said: “We are proud of our
contributions to your victory through the Yoruba Summit Conference held at the
University of Ibadan International Conference Centre on January 29,” he said.
“There, we passed a
well-applauded motion urging all the people of Western Nigeria origin of voting
age to vote for your re-election by virtue of your people-oriented and
welfarist APC political programmes and performance. We are happy the people
complied.
“We are also here to commend Your
Excellency for your recognition of June 12 as a landmark in the political
history of Nigeria and for naming the National Stadium in Abuja after Chief MKO
Abiola, the hero of Nigeria’s pro-Democracy struggle.
“We are equally glad to note and
commend Your Excellency for your efforts to empower the 36 states in Nigeria to
have control of the police as a measure of improving security.’’
He said Afenifere was also
delighted over the “giant stride” of the Buhari administration in the field of
agriculture, social intervention, revival and modernisation of rail
transportation, continuing efforts to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
among other achievements.
He, however, highlighted some
major issues of paramount interest to the people of south-west region in
particular and the unity, progress and happiness of the entire country in
general.
The Yoruba socio-cultural group
made requests bordering on security, education, youth employment, power supply
and agriculture.
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