The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen,
yesterday claimed that the nation’s judiciary is under threat.
He made this statement during a thanksgiving service at the
Methodist Church Nigeria, Abuja Diocese, Zone 3.
He lamented that judicial officers in the country were being
castigated and accused of corrupt practices by agents of the Federal Government
and politicians without giving them an opportunity to be heard.
“I did not set out to be a Judge, but today I am a judge by
divine intervention. It is the Lord’s doing, mine is to follow. My prayer is
that God should help me and should not let me down.
“I thank Nigerians for attending this event. It is supposed
to be personal thing between me and my God, but I have no hiding place. I thank
God for fulfilling His promise to me.
“The Judiciary is under threat. Judges and judicial
officers, including myself are being castigated without giving opportunity to
be heard, but God knows our heart.”
He cited the case involving Anambra Central Senatorial
election where a senator had accused the judiciary of robbing her of her
mandate.
Dignitaries at the thanksgiving service presided over by the
Archbishop of Abuja Diocese of the Church, the Most Rev. Joseph Oche Job,
included the Head of Service of the Federation, former governor of Rivers
State, Dr. Peter Odili, his Cross River State counterpart, Senator Liyel Imoke,
the Chief Judge of Cross River State and Senator Ndoma Egba.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) also attended in their
numbers including Adegboyega Awomolo and his wife, Bayo Ojo; Niyi Akintola;
Sabastine Hon; Alex Izinyon; Joe-Kyari Gadzama; Damien Dodo; Sunday Ameh;
Yakubu Maikyau and Godwin Obla.
By Ameh Comrade Godwin
