Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has leveled serious accusations against former President Muhammadu Buhari and his Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami.
Clark claims that they engaged in manipulative tactics to influence Nigeria’s judiciary with the intent of swaying the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.
Clark alleged that the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen was orchestrated to enable electoral malpractice.
He described this action as “disgraceful, callous, unjust, and barbaric,” expressing deep concern over the implications for Nigeria’s judicial integrity and democratic process.
In a letter addressed to the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Edwin Clark praised the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which cleared former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen of the charges related to false asset declaration.
Clark expressed his support for the decision, emphasizing its significance in upholding justice and restoring integrity to the judiciary.
He highlighted the ruling as a step towards reaffirming the principles of fairness and accountability within Nigeria’s legal system.
He lamented that Buhari’s administration weaponised constitutional powers to suspend Onnoghen unconstitutionally.
“President Buhari humiliated and oppressed Justice Onnoghen, all because he stood as a barrier to their plans for the 2019 elections,” Clark asserted. “This is a disgrace Nigeria has just recovered from.”
Clark criticized various judicial bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council, for their silence and inaction during the troubling ordeal faced by former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.
He expressed disappointment that these organizations did not take a stronger stance to defend judicial integrity.
Additionally, Clark accused former President Buhari of undermining judicial impartiality, asserting that he prioritized personal ambition over the principles of justice and fairness that are essential to a democratic society.
The elder statesman argued that Onnoghen’s removal was a strategic move to enable electoral manipulation. He alleged that Buhari’s administration feared the former CJN would resist unconstitutional practices.
“Justice Onnoghen would not have accepted the mischievous things Buhari wanted to carry out during the election,” Clark stated. He urged President Bola Tinubu to foster a government free from “sacred cows.”
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