A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen on Friday, said President Buhari removed him as CJN before the 2019 general elections because the President was informed that the ex-Chief Justice had been in a meeting with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Onnoghen spoke in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled ‘Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, Practice, Procedure, Forms and Precedents,’ written by Chief Ogwu James Onoja (SAN).
However, a Presidency official who did not want his name mentioned because he has not been authorised to speak on the matter said there was no truth in Onnogen’s claim on the reason behind his leaving office.
The source said the former CJN was duly charged and convicted. He wondered if Onnoghen was indicting the same judicial system which he presided over.
The Presidency official said, “Recall that Onnoghen was charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Recall also that evidence was presented. He contested the evidence and he lost, then he was convicted. So, what is he saying? Is he faulting the same judicial system which he presided over? As far as I know, his claim of a rumoured meeting with Atiku in Dubai was not part of the issue before the CCT. So, why change the narrative at this time?”