Niger Delta youth tackle Onnoghen

Some youths from Ijaw speaking part of the country have described the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the chief justice of Nigeria as apt and timely.

The youth group, while declaring him persona non grata, the group said people from south-south region were not thieves.

The United Niger Delta Youth Council asked Onnoghen to face the law and stop looking for sympathy.

“We are of the opinion that Justice Walter Onnoghen having risen to the exalted position of Chief Justice of Nigeria should have exhibited a high level of decency in his conduct as the number one Judicial Officer in the country,” Jackson Bob- Manuel, president of the youth group, said at a press conference on Saturday.

“It is, therefore, inexcusable for a man of such high standing to feign ignorance to the law as regards the declaration of assets in the country under the Code of Conduct Act. And if that is the case, then such a person is not fit to hold the exalted position of Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“We also wish to use this medium to state that corruption as a social vice knows no tribe, race or religion. It is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society over the years, and so, therefore, those that using the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen to wipe up ethnic and religious sentiments should desist from such acts as they cannot cry more than the bereaved.

“The United Niger Delta Youth Council says enough is enough of this treachery by political allies from the Niger Delta region. They must be held responsible for their actions and inaction as regards their conduct in office. And the case of Justice Walter Onnoghen should not be politicized to look like ethnic persecution.

“The fact remains that he failed to declare some of his assets as stipulated by the law and so, therefore, he has committed an offense which requires that he faces the full wrath of the law. And as the number one law officer in the country, he should know better.

“The United Niger Delta Youth Council frowns at the insinuations coming from certain quarters that the government persecuted justice Walter Onnoghen. While this is far from the truth, it is merely an attempt to cover up for a crime that was committed and deceive the public.”