By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Nigerian Bar Association has called on the National Assembly to save Nigeria from what it described as a “coup against the judiciary.”
The NBA made the call on Friday in a statement by its President, Paul Usoro (SAN), while reacting to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The group in a statement according to TVC News titled, ‘Coup against the Nigerian judiciary and suspension of the Nigerian constitution,’ said that President Muhammadu Buhari acted against the constitution by removing Onnoghen and swearing-in Justice Ibrahim Mohammed.
The statement read in parts: “The Nigerian Bar Association unequivocally rejects and condemns this attempted coup against the Nigerian Judiciary and evident suspension of the Nigerian Constitution by the Executive arm of the Federal Government.
“The action of the Executive portends a slide into anarchy and complete deconstruction of the Rule of Law and due process. It amounts to an absolute breach of the Constitution and the usurpation of the powers of the Senate and the Nigerian Judicial Council.
“It is unfortunate that the Executive Branch of Government purports to suspend the CJN on the basis of an alleged ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal – the same Tribunal that, to the knowledge of the Executive, had, only the previous day, Tuesday, 22 January 2019 adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 28 January 2019 and has before it a Motion on Notice that is yet to be argued, seeking the same reliefs as were contained in the purported ex-parte application, to wit, the suspension of the CJN amongst others.
“We call on the Federal Government to avert the looming constitutional crisis precipitated by its ill-advised action. In particular, the Nigerian Bar Association demands the reversal of the purported suspension of Honorable Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen, GCON,” the NBA said.
Similarly, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, in an interview with TVC News said that the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen is unconstitutional.