Labour Party governorship candidate in Kwara State Issa Aremu has advised the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to resign from office over false assets declaration charges preferred against him.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the former labour leader said Justice Onnoghen had not denied his failure to declare all his assets.
Aremu titled his address as “Judiciary on trial: Justice Mustapha Akanbi and Chief Gani Fawehinmi at time like this.”
He noted that the suspended CJN, who should know better, claimed that it was due to “forgetfulness and mistake.”
The Labour Party’s governorship candidate said that the admittance was suffice for the embattled jurist to honourably take leave of office and preserve the image of the judiciary.
Aremu, who is also the Vice President, Industrial Global Union, described as unfortunate that the CJN Onnoghen was shopping for court orders in a matter that only the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) could hear.
He pointed out that the CJN had laid precedence in the judgement he delivered in the past that it was sole responsibility of the CCT to deal with matters arising from asset declaration.
The Labour Party governorship candidate said that the CJN’s conduct since the allegation was raised had become embarrassing.
Aremu, however, added that the suspension of the CJN, who has the power to constitute election tribunals on the eve of 2019 election must necessarily raise eyebrow and suspicion.
He urged all stakeholders in the judicial sector and the nation’s democracy to safe the administration of justice from perception of corruption, double standards and self-help, rather than agonising over the trial and suspension of the CJN.
Aremu said: “I am not surprised that controversy has trailed the suspension of the CJN. However, regardless of the context of his suspension and the controversy that greeted his suspension, I think it is time for citizens and all stakeholders in Nigeria project not to lose focus but be able to see and discuss critical issues that are very fundamental.
“One major substance in this issue is that can the CJN, who is supposed to be the head of the judiciary talk of forgetting to declare his public asset? Can any accused person feigned mistake and forgetfulness over the allegation and would be allowed to go Scot free? For me, these are fundamental issues that we need to address.”
