The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, is to challenge his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari in court.
According to a senior advocate, who is a member of Onnoghen’s legal team, it had become expedient to do so as the suspension of a CJN by a President was unprecedented in the country.
He said, “We will be going to court to challenge the suspension of the CJN. The President relied on a CCT order despite the fact that the Court of Appeal had restrained all parties from removing the Chief Justice.
“The CJN was not even served with the court processes before he was removed by the President. So, all these will be challenged in court. When the processes have been filed, the documents will be made public.”
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has called a meeting slated for Wednesday, over the CJN’s suspension.
In a statement by the National President of JUSUN, Marwan Adamu, the union said it would deliberate on the happenings in the Judiciary and take a stand after the meeting.
Adamu also described the situation in the Judiciary as unfortunate, adding that the independence of the Judiciary as enshrined in the constitution “is non-negotiable.”