Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, on Friday broke his silence on the events that led to his suspension and subsequent conviction on the eve of 2019 general elections.
The former justice was accused of operating foreign accounts and refusal to declare his asset as provided for in the Code of Conduct law.
He was tried and convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), and banned on him from holding public office for 10 years.
Onnoghen, who was speaking for the first term after his controversial sack, said President Muhammadu Buhari removed and convicted him based on rumors that he met with the opposition presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar in Dubai.
The former CJN spoke at the the book launch of Ogwu Onoja, SAN) in Abuja on Friday. He said contrary to what the government said at that time, he was never confronted with any of the allegations before his suspension.
Onnoghen said: “There were rumours that I met with Atiku in Dubai. But as I am talking here today, I have never met Atiku one on one in my life. As if that was not enough, I was also accused of setting free, some high-profile criminals, whereas I ceased to be a high court judge as far back as 1978.
“In Supreme Court, I did not sit alone, we sat in panel. In all these rumours and outright accusations, I was not given the opportunity to defend myself.
“Let me make it clear that the office of the CJN was not for Onnoghen, but for all Nigerians who swore to guide and protect the constitution of the federal republic.
“As I have said severally, judicial officers must be courageous. And I want to beg all serving judicial officers not to be discouraged by what happened to me in the hand of the executive arm of the government.
“Let me sound this note of warning that the appointment of judicial officers must never be allowed to be politicised, otherwise, democracy and democratic governance will be dead.
“During my tenure, the problem of Nigeria was not the Nigerian judiciary, but those who had no regard for the rule of law. We must therefore be committed to the rule of law and dispense justice without fear or favour. Truth stands. Crush it, it will still stand because it is truth.”
