The forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance (PCPPGG) yesterday backed the suspension of Justice Onnoghen as CJN.
The candidates said it will not have any negative effect on the forthcoming general elections.
The chairman of the body, Alhaji Shittu Muhammed Kabir, said: “The Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance believes strongly that President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of Hon.Justice Onnoghen as CJN is proper and timely.
“Majority of Nigerians have now realised that but for the pre-emptive move by the President, Onnoghen would have proceeded to constitute the Election Petition Panels.
“No wonder some interested elements are shocked that their game plan has been punctured. Desperate disease needs a desperate treatment. President Buhari acted in the overall interest of the masses of Nigeria.
“So much is required from the judiciary since they hold the power of life and death. Judges are therefore expected to live above board and be incorruptible. It would have been unfair to Nigerians to have someone who is carrying a clear baggage of corruption on his head to continue to preside over a sensitive arm of government like the judiciary, just because some elements would wish to use legal technicalities to cover up or moderate an obvious misdeed.” He, however, said as responsible actors in Nigeria’s political system, they have concluded: “That the offence allegedly committed by Justice Onnoghen is not judicial that could have warranted the intervention of NJC.
“That the constitution recognises the holder of the office of CJN as the 1st public officer in Nigeria.
“That the suspension of the CJN cannot be equated with removal as envisaged in the constitution. The suspension by the President does not, therefore, require the input of the NJC and the National Assembly.”
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