FG might plunge Nigeria into needless crisis, says Ohanaeze on CJN’s trial

John Nwodo, president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, says the country might be thrown into political instability with the prosecution of Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria.

The federal government had filed charges bordering on non-declaration of assets against the CJN.

In a statement, Nwodo said Ohaneze received the news of the decision of the federal government to prosecute the CJN “with shock and disappointment”.

Describing the action as needless, he asked the government not to heat up the polity.

“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,” the statement read.

“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.

“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 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.

“Fulani herdsman killed 110 natives of Nimbo,in Enugu State.  Police investigations led to the arrest of some of  the herdsman with their telephone pictures of the carnage but not one has been prosecuted .

“The same carnage took place in Benue State. Pictures of the murderers wearing the uniform of the choir members of a Catholic church where they murdered their priests and members of their congregation were all over the social media. No one was arrested or prosecuted.

“The insensitiveness of the federal government to respect our constitution; it’s 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.”