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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the president Muhammadu Buhari led government for suspending Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Atiku, in a World Press Conference he held on Monday, said Onnoghen’s suspension by the presidency is a breach of the country’s constitution, adding that the action of the government is likened to that of military dictatorship. He said the issue at stake is not whether the Chief Justice is guilty or not, but whether his removal from office has been done in accordance with the process specified in the constitution. He, therefore, warned the APC government to desist from taking actions that may push the country “further down the slippery slope towards a major constitutional crisis that could derail the electoral process.” Read Atiku’s full speech as released by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, below: “Yet again, our dear country is passing through a difficult moment. How

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has replied the United States, US, United Kingdom, UK, and European Union, EU, over their condemnation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Monday, rejected their suggestion that Onnoghen’s removal had do with the forthcoming general elections. He said: “Against the backdrop of statements by some foreign concerns over Justice Onnoghen’s suspension vis-a-vis forthcoming general elections, we strongly advise that they are abreast with our laws and procedures. “A situation were these foreign concerns come across as meddling or being misled or influenced by bogus partisan narratives is unfortunate and unacceptable. “We find it completely untenable to insinuate any attempt on the part of our government to rig elections. Our party contested elections in 2015 as an opposition party and we trounced the PDP while

The embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has decided to fight back by suing President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly suspending him illegally. Onnoghen, according to reports, will file a suit today (Monday) to challenge President Buhari’s decision to suspend him despite an order by the Court of Appeal stopping his removal. Punch quoted an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as stating that the embattled CJN and his legal team will start the court processes this morning and update the public on the details afterwards. “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 SAN told Punch. “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.” On wh

"The US , UK and EU should want any such matters to be heard by a Supreme Court led by a CJN without an obvious and outstanding ethical and legal blemish on his ledger. To have such a person preside over any case, would call into question the impartiality of any decision rendered and undermine the rule of law. This cannot be what these three friends of Nigeria intended. Thus, they should do a bit more research on this matter and refrain from being too hastily attracted by the arguments of those who have partisan agenda at odds with the government’s positions on most matters and who thus hope to use this issue as a new arrow in their quiver of partisan contestations," the statement by Garba Shehu read. On Saturday, the US, UK and EU had issued statements questioning the suspension, especially so close to the elections. However, a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), issued on Sunday, noted that the international commun

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has removed the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha , as the state coordinator of the party ’ s campaign council . The decision followed the recommendation of the disciplinary committee set up by the Imo APC over allegations of anti -party activities levelled against the governor and others . The committee chaired by Mathew Omegara had earlier summoned the governor and six others to appear before it . The National Publicity Secretary , Mallam Lanre Issa -Onilu, had said the National Working Committee of the party would meet to consider the Imo APC recommendation that Okorocha should be suspended. “ What has happened in Imo shows that the APC means business . Once they have complied with all the rules , no problem . When they bring the recommendation to the NWC, we will look at it ,” he had said . But a member of the Imo State chapter of the APC told our correspondent on Sunday that Okorocha had already been removed

The presidency assured the US, UK and EU that the 2019 election will be free and fair - In a statement by Garba Shehu, the presidency said Walter Onnoghen's suspension has nothing to do with the election - Shehu said Onnoghen has also not been permanently removed The presidency has again sent a message to the US, UK and EU assuring them that the suspension of the chief justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen is not related to the coming general elections. In a statement issued by Garba Shehu on Sunday, January 27, the presidency said it appreciated the concern of three ‘friends’ of the country but assured that the election will be free and fair. He said: “The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation. During the swearing-in cer

President Muhammadu Buhari has invitedAPC senators to the Presidential villa -The presidentwill meet withthe senators Monday, January28 -The meeting will reportedly focused on the recentsuspension ofthe CJN, WalterOnngohen Aheadof the Senate's resumptionon Tuesday, PresidentMuhammadu Buhari has invited senators ofthe All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Presidentialvilla, Abuja for a meeting over the suspension ofthe Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen. Thesenators arereportedly meeting with the president on Monday, January28, to prepare onhow to defend the president's decision to suspend Onnoghen. ThePunch reports that the invitations to the meeting were signedby the Director General ofthe APC Presidential CampaignOrganisation, who is also the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. However, anAPC sourcewho spoke to the press said:“So, weneedto talk toour members in the Senateand impress it on them nottoallow Saraki toimpose his personal opinion on the