The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, will on Monday (today) challenge his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari in court.
This came on the heels of the suspension of the National Judicial Council’s 88th meeting in Abuja. The delayed meeting is not unconnected to fears of a possible clash between supporters of Onnoghen and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Mohammed.
Speaking on the development, one of the members of Onnoghen’s legal team noted that it had become necessary to do so as the suspension of a CJN by a President has no judicial precedent.
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He said, “We will be going to court to challenge the suspension of the CJN. The President relied on a CCT order despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had restrained all parties from removing the chief justice.
“The CJN was not even served with the court processes before he was removed by the President. So, all these will be challenged in court. When the processes have been filed, the documents will be made public.”
Explaining why the CJN’s reaction was delayed, the senior advocate said, “He was suspended late on Friday and you know courts do not sit on Saturday and Sunday.”