The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has alleged plans by the presidency to arrest the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen. Part of the plot, according to the coalition, is to compel the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, to disregard the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which directed the tribunal to maintain status quo, to issue a bench warrant on Justice Onnoghen, in the event that he fails to appear in court next Tuesday. At a press conference yesterday, CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the acting Inspector General of Police was directed to effect his arrest on the same day, adding that this would be a litmus test for his speedy confirmation as the substantive Inspector General.
He said: “They further resolved that another petition would now be forwarded to the National Judicial Council and that petition has already been drafted in the Chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. “This petition will pre-cede the other frivolous and trumped up allegations which will be submitted against Justice Mary Peter- Odili, Justice Cletus Nweze and Justice Rhodes Vivour just to scare them away and tarnish their good names.” He disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has been briefed of the new plan. According to him, the CCT Chairman has been blackmailed with pending criminal charges against him, and was assured that nobody would move against him if he cooperates.
“The plan on Tuesday to get Danladi Umar to issue a bench warrant against the CJN; the plan on Tuesday to get the Ag, IGP to arrest the CJN and the plan on Tuesday to forcibly arraign the CJN are solely aimed at forcing the CJN out of office hence paving the way for a well-known pro-Buhari Judge, Justice Tanko Mohammed, who is the Deputy Chaiman of the NJC to take over and do all their bidding. “Let it be known that unless and until the CJN is found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, he will not resign!” he warned. The CUPP alleged the All Progressives Congress (APC) want to force Onnoghen out of office and put an acting CJN, whose bidding would include setting up appeal panels to resolve the Rivers and Zamfara APC crisis in favour of the party
