The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) as a judicial coup.
This is even as the political parties have asked the Senate to immediately reconvene and commence impeachment proceedings against the President.
Speaking at an emergency press conference on Friday, the opposition parties lamented that President Buhari has overthrown constitutional governance.
Addressing journalists, CUPP Spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, maintained that Onnoghen remains the head of the nation’s Judiciary.
Citing Section 292 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he described the President’s action as illegal.
He said: “Onnoghen’s illegal removal was aimed at stopping the swearing in of members of the 2019 general election petition tribunal.
“We have been vindicated on our earlier alarm that Buhari wants to appoint pro-APC CJN to help use the judiciary to affirm APC candidates in the 2019 pre and post election litigation.
“We hereby call on lawyers, judges and judicial staffs to downtool immediately. This is the last battle and it must be won. The NBA should immediately call out all lawyers. All courts must be shut now while nationwide protest against this impunity should also commence.
“The CJN must remain in office and disregard this announcement as the President has no power to suspend him.
“The Senate should reconvene now and start impeachment process against the President for acting against the provision of the Constitution he swore to uphold.
“Buhari has shown with this development that he is the most cruel and barbaric President Nigeria ever had.
“A man who rode to power on the basis of respect for the rule law and fundamental principles of democracy has chosen to play to the gallery of dictatorship to right elections. Let see how it goes.
“But we know that this is going to be the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. The democratic institutions will fight back. Trust me it is the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. Out of adversity comes strength”.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
