by Henry Omunu, Abuja
Vice – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi has decried the intimidation of the judiciary, declaring that the trend if unchecked could lead to a state of anarchy.
Reacting to the on – going trial of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen on allegations of non -declaration of assets, Obi asserted that when the critical essence of democracy is under siege or attacked, the state could be set on the path of perdition.
The PDP vice presidential candidate made the observation at Shagamu, Ogun state where he represented Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the strategy meeting of the PDP.
He noted that law-abiding citizens of Nigeria, including members of the judiciary, affirm that nobody is above the law, insisting that the process of legal restitution for alleged infractions of the laws of the land must be above board.
“In the present case, confirmed indications reveal that due process was not followed. For instance, what should be done first in such cases is to write formally to the National Judiciary Council [NJC], and that was not done,” he explained.
Commenting on the rating of the judiciary, Obi said that the Nigerian judiciary remains the best of the three arms of government under the present dispensation, adding that it has done tremendously well.
According to him, he is a celebrated beneficiary of the nation’s judicial system.
“It was through the courts that I secured my electoral mandate and also served my full term. It was also due process that reversed my illegal impeachment. Interestingly, a number of other public office holders, including the incumbent chairman of the APC benefited from that courageous precedent set by the judiciary,” he added.
Obi expressed sadness that the judiciary had been subjected to unwarranted intimidation by the present administration with such unwholesome acts as unfounded hounding of members of the higher bench, raids on their homes, arrest and arraignment, to the present macabre dance in the name of allegations against and arraignment of the chief justice.
More appalling, Obi noted, is “whether the handlers of the present regime are unmindful of the extant law that requires the National Judicial Council (NJC) to first investigate judicial officers and, if found culpable, recommend disciplinary measures to the legislature before any arraignment if necessary.
“It is also revealing that this scenario is not novel in today’s Nigeria. It is the same chief justice that was also subjected to all manner of traumatic experience before his emergence as head of the Nigerian judiciary.
“From the way and manner we are going, the judicial arm that helps to defend, guide, guard and direct democracy and its institutions is being overawed, intimidated and undermined preparatory to the general elections. Wherein lies our hope in Nigeria?”
He therefore, charged Nigerian leaders to shun the temptation of making moves or taken actions that could engender and breed anarchy in the country.
