Adegboyega Awomolo, lead counsel to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, Monday, lamented the lack of independence of the judiciary.
Awomolo in a statement, made available to journalists shortly after Monday’s proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where Onnoghen is standing trial on six-count charge over alleged false assets declaration, said the “Nigerian judiciary is very weak, vulnerable and not independent”.
He said it was unthinkable that the head of the judiciary would be treated the way Onnoghen was being pushed around.
He wondered why the body of men and women of highest distinction in the legal profession would look on, as nothing is amiss.
Awomolo also regretted that, “Whereas political matters and election matters were treated with dispatch, and judgment delivered within hours, the appeal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, six weeks after argument was made, judgment has been kept away in the file.
“There is no association of Nigerian Judges to speak a word. Let no public officer or judicial officer at any level, throw stone because if not all, most are guilty as Onnoghen. Nobody knows who is next, a precedent has been laid, and the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation seems pleased.”
He consequently called for amendment of the Constitution to place the Code of Conduct Tribunal under the judiciary to give it its much-needed independence, impartiality and to avoid interference from outside the court.
He argued that corruption could not be fought successful with corrupt institutions, adding, “It is injustice to inflict corrupt procedure on innocent public officers. God will not allow corruption to consume our nation. The end should not justify the means the means should justify the end.
“The practice of propaganda lies and media trial will encourage injustice. Truth will exalt our nation, but propaganda and lies will enthrone injustice. Lies and injustice is a reproach. Let justice be done even if heaven will fall and let the rule of law be the only means to justify the end,” he said.
