FG is heating up the polity - Ohanaeze speaks on CJN Onnoghen's trial

- President general of Umbrella organisation of Ndigbo, the Ohananeze, John Nwodo, spoke on the six-count charges preferred against Walter Onnoghen by the federal government

- Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, has been accused of failing to declare some of his assets while declaring them at the Code of Conduct Bureau

- Nwodo said assets acquired after assumption of office are declared at the end of a public official’s tenure

President general of Umbrella organisation of Ndigbo, the Ohananeze, John Nnia Nwodo, has warned the federal government against prosecuting the CJN, Walter Onnoghen over his failure to declare some of his assets while declaring them at the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Nigerian Tribune reports that Nwodo on Sunday, January 13, said that legal opinion did not support the action and therefore should not have been contemplated at all.

According to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Ohaneze has received, with shock and disappointment, the decision of the federal government of Nigeria, acting through the Code of Conduct Bureau to prosecute Onnoghen.

READ ALSO: Hundreds of lawyers, journalists await CJN Onnoghen arrival at CCT (photos)

The statement read: “This procedure has not been followed. The fact that the National Judicial Council has been ignored is not just illegal but suggests deliberate court shopping and a predetermined objective

''Secondly, the fact that one of the issues being canvassed by the CCB before the CCT is for an order of the CCT for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to step aside from his exalted office pending the conclusion of the trial contrary to the procedure for his removal from office as provided by the Nigerian constitution exposes the aim of the prosecution.”

Nwodo said a perusal of some of the depositions in the charge sheet also showed a completely distorted conception of the regulations pertaining to the declaration of assets.

According to him, “Assets acquired after assumption of office are declared at the end of a public official’s tenure in order to present a comparison with assets declared on the assumption of office

“The federal government is heating up the polity. Not long ago we were entertained with all sorts of interpretations of the vice president’s powers while the President is on leave.

“The GMD of the Nnpc was accused of violating laws pertaining to the award of contracts. Because he comes from a protected ethnic group and class, no investigation was conducted

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

''The insensitiveness of the federal government to respect for our constitution. Its patronage of double standards in the enforcement of the law is sickening and abhorrent

“If these developments are taken together with the obvious rigging regulations approved by INEC, we fear that our country is about to be thrown into a needless political instability.”

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Walter Samuel, Chief Justice of Nigeria refuted claims that he was served summons to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to face trial over alleged false asset declaration.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) filed a six-count charge against the CJN over alleged failure to declare his asset upon assumption of office as provided in Section 15 (1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act C15, punishable under Section 23 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the same Act, Daily Trust reports.

During the hearing on Monday, the CJN who was represented by about 25 Senior Advocates of Nigeria and over 50 other lawyers, said he was not served in person as demanded by the constitution.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

South-South governors condemn trial of CJN Onnoghen | Legit TV:

Source: Legit.ng