Elder statesman, Edwin Clark, has once again voiced his strong condemnation of the 2019 removal of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling it a significant dent on Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
In a letter addressed to the current CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Clark expressed admiration for her efforts to reform the judiciary, while revisiting the contentious events surrounding Onnoghen’s ousting.
In the letter, which was made public on Sunday in Abuja, Clark referred to Onnoghen’s removal as a “gross injustice” and a “blot” on the country’s democratic record.
He applauded Justice Kekere-Ekun’s resolve in seeking judicial reforms, stressing that without a fair and incorruptible judiciary, Nigeria faces the risk of becoming a failed state.
Clark expressed his hopes that ongoing efforts to revamp the judiciary would help restore public trust.
Recalling the circumstances surrounding Onnoghen’s removal, Clark described the event as an orchestrated attack on the judiciary by President Buhari and his then-Attorney General, Abubakar Malami.
He characterized the suspension of Onnoghen and the subsequent appointment of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as Acting CJN as “callous” and “barbaric.”
Clark alleged that Onnoghen’s ousting was politically motivated, aimed at securing a judiciary that would support Buhari’s re-election bid in 2019.
He pointed out that the National Judicial Council (NJC) was not consulted, which he saw as a violation of due process, and claimed that tribunals established under Justice Tanko Mohammed were manipulated to favor Buhari’s second-term ambitions.
Clark also sharply criticized the culture of impunity fostered by Buhari’s administration, drawing comparisons to authoritarian regimes.
The elder statesman called for greater accountability in the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, insisting that no one, regardless of their position, should be above the law.
“No sacred cows,” he declared, emphasizing the need for a judicial system free from political interference.
Clark also expressed frustration at the failure of former leaders to face scrutiny, particularly in the area of corruption.
He pointed out the irony of the situation, recalling how Justice Onnoghen had been part of the Supreme Court panel that ruled in favor of Buhari in the 2011 presidential election dispute.
According to Clark, Onnoghen’s independence and principled stance had become a threat to Buhari’s re-election, making his removal appear as a calculated political move.
In his concluding remarks, Clark called for systemic reform within the judiciary and urged the Tinubu administration to address past wrongs in order to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
He suggested that the actions of Buhari in the Onnoghen case should be legally challenged, setting a precedent for accountability and justice in the country.
