The Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance has said that the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari is proper and timely.
The Chairman of the Forum and Presidential Candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Mohammed Shittu, said this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Buhari had on Jan. 25 suspended Onnoghen, pending the completion of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and swore in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the most senior Supreme Court Justice, as the acting CJN.
The president said that the suspension was as a result of the ongoing trial of Onnoghen by the CCT and subsequent order of the tribunal directing him to suspend the CJN pending the completion of his trial.
Shittu expressed astonishment at the reactions to the alleged offence committed by Onnoghen, which were coming mainly from senior legal practitioners, and which were not based on the law, but premised on emotions, sentiments and political affiliations.
The ADPA presidential candidate said that by virtue of the Interpretation Act, the President had the right to suspend any public officer from office.
(NAN)
