CJN charges political class to live within the confine of the law

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, has charged the political class and other Nigerians to eschew favouritism but live within the confines of the law as the law is no respecter of persons.

Speaking at the State reception and banquet in his honour, Justice Onnoghen said, “each and every one of us should try to leave within the confine of the law and the constitution of this country, if we are able to do just that, we would be sure of ensuring peace and unity.”

He further said, “We will be sure of making out justice because you see when we live by the law and not by impunity that is the way forward, so cooperate with the judiciary of this country by living and doing everything you can within the ambit of the law because the law governs every activity of our daily lives.

“It has been let down and it is there, but when you go in and do something wrong and you say you can buy your way through, people think like that, it is no more and no longer fashionable, that is what have brought us to the state we are now, so please let us break away from that and God will bless us,” he prayed.

Justice Onneghen thanked the people and government of Cross River state for the honour done him and his wife.

He said he thank God for the humility of realising that, there is no other way for him except to do that which he ought to do.

“I thank the Cross River state government again for the honour done me but this event was to have taken place within the legal vacation, we originally agreed for July 29 but phone call came that they will be held today, and knowing that it is my wife’s birthday which we usually celebrate quietly, I had to put a call to her and she said no trouble. She could be here and still do her own quietly.”

Presenting a customized Bible and a gold jewel to the Chief Justice, Governor Ben Ayade urged him to reconstruct the judiciary pointing out that he was sure that he will make the state proud and the judiciary will finally be better.

“We the people of Cross River state are proud of your legal history, we are particularly proud because we are sure by the time you are done, at the fullness of time, the people of Cross River state will once more say we are indeed not just leading in tourism, not just because we are very elegant class of people but truly we have very brilliant super stars who have risen to the top.”