The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to end “the unjust persecution of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen”, just as the rights group accused both the hierarchies of the Code of Conduct Tribunal; Court of Appeal and the acting CJN of being in a trinity of conspiracy to wrest the office of CJN from Southern Nigeria to serve the ulterior motives of the Islamic segment of Northern Nigeria.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA condemned “the undue haste in the contrived trial of the CJN, who was unjustly suspended by President Buhari over nebulous allegations by the Code of Conduct Tribunal headed by a man with alleged tainted reputation just as the rights group wondered why the Court of Appeal has been foot-dragging in reaching a determination on the series of appeals by the CJN.”

It also accused the National Judicial Council (NJC) of “having been choreographed to slow down the petitions against the illegally appointed Acting CJN to await the predetermined conviction of the witch-hunted Justice Onnoghen.”

In the media statement on Monday, the rights group stated as follows: “It is no longer secret that the ordeal of the suspended CJN is a carefully woven plot to oust him from office without due process of laws by President Buhari and gang who are afraid that Justice Onnoghen may, as CJN, not sanction their electoral heist.

“What is not known in the public domain is the Bauchi State connection in the entire wicked plan. The President of the Court of Appeal is from Bauchi State while the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, is another Bauchi person. The major beneficiary from the coup, apart from President Buhari, if CJN Onnoghen is ousted unceremoniously, is the acting CJN, who is another Bauchi person.

“The plot is to use blackmail and propaganda to oust the CJN from office after the kangaroo arraignment and midnight exparte order by Danladi Umar and, where it fails, to hastily convict CjN Onnoghen at all cost in the Code of Conduct Tribunal manned by Bauchi State-born Danladi Umar.

“A contingency second part of the plot was made using the auspices of office of the President Court of Appeal, who is from Bauchi State and whose husband is APC senator-elect, to block CJN Onnoghen from getting any judicial succour from the Court of Appeal.

“However, an unforeseen snag in the entire script is the weakness of the case against CJN Onnoghen and his refusal to throw in the towel through resignation despite intense propaganda materials unleashed through Federal Government machinery; but the commitment of the heavily-compromised Chairman Danladi Umar to the odious agenda is to the extent that he can do anything humanly possible to help his homeboy to become the substantive CJN.

“The speed of trial of CJN Onnoghen has broken all known judicial or quasi-judicial records because Chairman Danladi Umar is determined to convict him in three weeks’ time before the tenure of office of the acting CJN expires. Note that the constitution forbids any person whose tenure expires while in acting capacity from being appointed into substantive position. In this instant case, since the CJN is on suspension, a substantive CJN cannot be appointed except if CJN Onnoghen is convicted at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and finally removed by Mr. President.

“On the other hand, the plot is not to remove Justice Onnoghen and put any other person other than the present Acting CJN from Bauchi State. Hence Danladi Umar was very angry with the media when reports emerging from the proceedings at the tribunal show clearly that CJN Onnoghen is being persecuted for offences unknown in law. The media wanted to throw spanner into the wicked plot but Danladi Umar cannot tolerate any failure emanating from that angle.

“Chairman Danladi Umar’s hasty dismissal of no case submission by the defense team of CJN Onnoghen and unprecedented adjournment for two days (Saturday and Sunday) interval for a definite date for the persecuted CJN to start his defense is a race against time: CJN Onnoghen shall be convicted within three weeks for the operation to succeed.

“Any attempt by Justice Onnoghen’s team to rush to the Court of Appeal to stop this inquisition is failure foretold because the Lady President of Court of Appeal is waiting for them with her hammer. Hence the refusal of Court of Appeal to deliver judgment in the earlier appeal filed by CJN Onnoghen to the court challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try the matter despite the fact that arguments have been completed months ago.

“In effect, Justice Onnoghen has been caged by judicial inquisitions and only waiting for the hammer to fall on him for a crime he never committed but for the ambition of few desperate people for the love for lucre and power.

“There is no doubt that the presumption of innocence and impartiality of trial as guaranteed by our constitution is no longer applicable in the charade at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and Court of Appeal. Justice Onnoghen’s fate has been sealed.”

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