By Baron Ike
There was mass protest at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday as thousands of lawyers, women, youths, activists demand that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, be not removed.
Ugochinyere addressing the protesters
Coalition of Opposition Political parties (CUPP) had warned last week that Onnoghen would be forced out today, Tuesday.
Led Imo Ugochinyere, the CUPP national secretary, the protesters demanded that Federal Govt obeys a Court order restraining President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney General from forcing Onnoghen out of office and replacing him with Justice Tanko Mohammed.
Thousands of angry protesters made up of lawyers, activists, women and youth groups under the Platform of National Interest Defenders (NID) shut down the Code of Conduct tribunal to register their displeasure with the move by the Buhari led APC govt to overthrow the leadership of the Nigerian Judiciary with a secret motion filled by the FG seeking the swearing in of Tanko Mohammed as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and forceful removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria from office.
Ugochinyere raised the alarm over the decision of the tribunal to commence sitting despite the service of the Court order barring the Tribunal, the AGF and President Buhari from going further with any legal process on the issue of the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, threatening that the group will commence contempt proceedings against the Tribunal Chairmam Danladi Umar if he does not discontinue all Hearing on the trial of the CJN pending the determination of the substantive motion.
The group warned President Buhari to resist from his continued act of desperation and rampage against institutions of Democracy, promising him that he will suffer the same humiliation that Congo President Kabila suffered at the Polls.