By Daniel Kanu and Ishaya Ibrahim
President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, according to several tweets from the presidency’s spokespersons and official tweeter handle of the government.
The President’s Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Bashir Ahmad, said through his twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad, that Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed, was named by the President.
The official tweeter handle of the presidency also confirmed that the President has replaced Onnoghen with Justice Ibrahim Tanko.
“President Buhari this afternoon swore-in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. #AsoVillaToday,” the tweet reads.
The action of the President provoked shock and outrage from lawyers.
A lawyer, Ziggy Azike told our correspondent that the information about the sack of the CJN could not be true.
“I don’t believe it is possible. I need to read it first. But I don’t believe it is true,” he said.
Emeka Nsofor, another lawyer said even though he had personally confirmed the information about the sack of the CJN, he, however, said anything was possible with the government of President Buhari.
“ Anything is possible under this administration. If something like this happens, it is a slap on the judiciary. Lack of declaration of assets has no punitive effect. It is an administrative procedure. All the authorities needed to do was to bring it to his notice. And he has admitted that he didn’t remember to declare his asset. It has nothing to do with criminality,” he said.
Lawyer and politician, Godson Okoye said the action is against the Rule of Law.
Okoye who expressed surprise over the action told TheNiche that “what has happened portends great danger”.
He said that the process of suspension of the CJN must be as provided by the constitution and nothing less, adding that “the action is an ominous sign that there is great danger ahead.”
According to him” Section “E” of the code of conduct, Section 292 of the constitution on how the CJN can be removed are all quite explanatory, so why this impunity? “It smacks danger for the Rule of Law, Democracy and Justice.”