Directors didn’t cost Onnoghen his job, says Supreme Court
By Andrew Orolua, Abuja
The Supreme Court has debunked insinuations that six directors cost the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen his job, describing it as false and misleading.
A statement signed by the Director, Press/ Information, Dr. Akande Festus said that the court’s attention has been drawn to the “misleading, ill-informed and obviously calculated news item to fan the embers of discord and as well whip up premature sentiments” published in a national daily on April 29.
The statement reads: “It is imperative to let the public know that the story is misleading, ill-informed and obviously calculated to fan the embers of discord and as well whip up premature sentiments.
“The Supreme Court is an organized and well-structured arm of government that is governed by well-defined rules and regulations which all staff are expected to observe and align with in their daily operations.
“The Nigerian state as it is well known, has three arms of government which evidently makes provision for the executive, legislature and the judiciary. As it is in practice, these three arms are mutually independent and largely enjoy separation of powers; thus for anyone to insinuate that the executive is the one dictating to the chief justice of Nigeria on how to run the affairs of the Supreme Court or the kind of disciplinary measures to mete out as a form of internal discipline of the staff for whatever reason is both false and logically defective.
“In his capacity as the head of the judiciary and the Supreme Court in particular, as it was then, Justice Onnoghen had no cause to seek external advice or intervention in the discipline of his staff, if such occasion had arisen.
“Similarly, the alleged six directors or what the publication referred to as “ASCON 6” have no cause or power whatsoever to plot against Justice Onnoghen as reported in the publication.
“Let it be noted that the president has never interfered or meddled in the internal administration of the Supreme Court, let alone granting audience to the six directors with a view to plotting Justice Onnoghen’s downfall on the grounds that the former chief justice allegedly failed to heed to the president’s advice of sacking them for the alleged massive underhand dealings.
“Evidently, the entire publication is replete with falsehood and garnished tales, as there is nothing like anti-Onnoghen campaign group among the justices of the court.
“This claim could aptly be taken as a fairy tale that only dwells in the imagination of the author and his informants. The Supreme Court justices have no camps, groups or any form of division in their ranks as alleged. In reality, they are even more united and cohesive in the discharge of their judicial functions and service to their fatherland.”
