I never met ex- vice president
The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has faulted the process that led to his vacation of the seat about two years ago.
Onnoghen, who is making his first public comment on the issue, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of acting on a baseless rumour that he held a meeting with ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Dubai ahead of the last general elections.
This led him to resign his appointment on April 5, 2019, three months after his suspension by President Buhari.
Onnoghen, who spoke at the public presentation of a book “Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009: Practice, procedure, forms and precedents,” authored by Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), said although the rumour was brought to his attention before his removal, he chose not to address it because he never met with Atiku in Dubai and had ever encountered the former Vice President in person all his life.
He expressed disappointment that despite its huge investigative capacity, the Presidency failed to authenticate the rumour before removing him.
He faulted his trial process before the CCT, saying that in the course of the trial, and when parties had joined issues, an ex-parte application was suddenly brought in, and “what followed was my illegal and unlawful suspension as the CJN”.
Continuing, he said: “Prior to my suspension, I was confronted with no allegation.
“There were rumours that I met with Atiku in Dubai. As I am talking here today, I have never met Atiku one on one in my life.”
Onnoghen resigned on April 5, 2019 following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) for his early retirement.
