Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has leveled serious allegations against former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of oppressing and humiliating former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, to clear the path for his controversial re-election in 2019.
Clark claimed that Buhari, in collusion with his then-Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), orchestrated Onnoghen’s removal in what he described as a calculated move to ensure no judicial roadblocks during the election period.
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the current CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Clark commended the Court of Appeal for acquitting Onnoghen of false asset declaration charges. He labeled the case as unjust and condemned the unconstitutional manner in which Onnoghen was suspended, bypassing the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the National Assembly.
Clark described Onnoghen’s ordeal as a clear violation of justice, adding that the former CJN’s removal was part of a scheme to suppress opposition and facilitate electoral manipulations.
Reflecting on the events of 2019, Clark said, “Justice Onnoghen was oppressed and humiliated by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. If Justice Onnoghen had remained CJN, the mischievous plans they wanted to execute during the presidential election would not have succeeded. His removal was a secret plot designed to ensure no interference with their agenda.”
Clark called the entire episode a “disgraceful, callous, and barbaric show of shame,” accusing Buhari of stooping to unprecedented levels to secure a second term at all costs.
In his letter, Clark urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to uphold justice and ensure no individual or institution operates above the law.
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“There must be no sacred cows in Nigeria, no matter whose ox is gored. Immunity is not for life, and no one should be untouchable, including former Presidents who have looted the nation but remain unchallenged.”
Ironically, Clark noted that Justice Onnoghen was part of the Supreme Court panel whose judgment favored Buhari during the 2011 presidential election dispute. However, he argued that Buhari’s administration later turned against him, seeing him as an obstacle to their agenda.
Clark’s allegations have reignited debates on the role of the judiciary in safeguarding democracy and the extent to which political interests influence judicial processes.
The revelations have sparked widespread reactions, with many Nigerians calling for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Onnoghen’s removal. The elder statesman’s call for accountability resonates as citizens demand an end to the era of political interference in judicial matters.
