Lawyers demonstrating in Abuja on Monday
Lawyers and members of civil society organisations protested simultaneously across several cities in Nigeria on Monday to register their angst over what they termed the tyranny of President Muhammadu Buhari. The President had suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN ), Justice Walter Onnoghen, citing an order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
This has kicked a wave of reactions from across the country especially from lawyers, CSOs and the media all of which roundly condemned the process and timing of the suspension.
In Abuja, lawyers marched through Airport Road with some hanging on trucks to register their anger and disapproval of Buhari’s treatment of the CJN who was alleged to have under-declared his assets.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has directed its members to stay away from the courts from Tuesday over the suspension of Onnoghen. The NBA took the decision at its emergency meeting in Abuja, saying the warning strike will last for two days. There were strong indications from the NBA leadership that after two days if the situation persists, there could be total shut down of the courts across the nation.
Also on Monday, the African Bar Association (ABA) condemned the reign of tyranny in Nigeria under Buhari, calling on the Federal Government to tread softly and apply itself to the rule of law.
