Onnoghen’s Saga And The Memory Of January, 2019: Is Enough Not Yet Enough?! By: Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq.

It is memorable in the history of the Code of Conducts Bureau and Tribunal. It is memorable in the history of the court’s system. It is memorable in the history of the National Judicial Council of Nigeria. And it is memorable in the history of Nigerian government as a whole. Furthermore, there are many events that made the month of January, 2019, very important and memorable for the yet to come generation. The month of January, 2019 was the month in which the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria-herein after referred to as the CJN- and Chairman of the National Judicial Council was alleged to have failed to declare some of his assets according to the Code of Conducts for Public Officers contained in the Constitution. It was the month in which more than 40 Seniors Advocate of Nigeria and almost a hundred of other non-Seniors Advocates of Nigeria lawyers stood to defend the CJN on the alleged breach of Code of Conducts. It was the month in which the Federal High Court of Nigeria and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria granted different Orders stopping the Code of Conducts Tribunal from its hearing of the charges against the CJN. It was the month in which the Cde of Conduct Tribunal-herein after referred to as the CCT- was reported to have granted an Order Ex-parte, suspending the CJN. It was the month in which the President was reported to have relied on the Order of the CCT to suspend the CJN. It was the month in which the President appointed the most Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the Acting-CJN and Acting Chairman of the National Judicial Council. It was the month in which the Nigerian Bar Association through its National Executive Committee issued a resolution for lawyers in Nigeria to boycott Courts across Nigeria for just two days as solidarity for the judiciary and to show dissatisfaction of the bar against the President (the executive) for suspending the CJN unlawfully. It was the month in which both the NJC and the Acting CJN were excluded from the NJC meeting at the same time. It was the month in which the NJC served the CJN and the Acting CJN petitions filed against each of them for their response within 7 days of receiving the petitions from the NJC. It was the month in which Court of Appeal of Nigeria had to deliver judgments at different occasions but in relation to the Onnoghen’s saga, among other important and memorable events in the month. All these having been said, the question this paper is asking is whether we as Nigerians; the politicians; the sentimentalists; the lawyers, and other critiques in one way or the other are not done yet, considering what this Country-Nigeria- has been thrown into within the shortest time in the month of January, 2019? Or to also put it, whether all these events which in my view, have to be enough are not yet enough for orderliness, peace and progress to re-emerge or glamour the nation, while allowing the whole issues to be properly directed? In my humble view, I am of the submission that Nigeria has had enough of embarrassment from the Onnoghen’s saga. Also, it is important for me to state that were the situations not to have been well managed, this country was almost lead into chaos and disorderliness and that is why a stakeholder’s meeting and or deliberation across the Federation is hereby suggested to carry out an analytical study of the entire saga and to recommend needs for further actions especially to prevent this occurrence. I further advise that all persons should stay calm but step aside all these issues and enable the court of law to resolve the issues in one way or the other. Therefore, I advise the Nigerian Bar Association, Non-governmental institutions or bodies, other politically interested persons, etc., to please stay calm but step aside and allow the CJN to deal with the matter in collaboration with his lawyers who are representing him according to law within the judicial functions. Also, I suggest everyone to analyse the entire saga and proffer solutions for preempting any of this kind of situation in Nigeria, for it almost collapsed the country’s image and structures. Also, I advise every person involved in this case to maintain rule of law and respect for democracy. Finally, I pray and wish that this situation will never be felt and not to be experienced in Nigeria again. Nevertheless, it is my prayers that God Almighty bless us all in Nigeria! God bless the Nigerian leadership, God bless the citizens of Nigeria and God bless and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria! e-mail: hameed_ajibola@yahoo.com]]>