Onnoghen’s Conviction, Sack Good For Anti-corruption War – Presidency

The Presidency has reacted to the conviction and sack of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

In a statement on Thursday, by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media, Garba Shehu, the presidency insisted that the war against corruption is all encompassing and not designed to persecute anyone for political or other reasons.

He said the conviction of the suspended CJN was a major victory for the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.

Shehu noted that the essence of the rule of law is to hold everyone accountable before the law, regardless of their status in society.

“The rule of law will lose its meaning and validity if only the weak, the poor and powerless are punished for their violations of the law,” he said.

“Countries succeed because the rule of law is evenly upheld and enforced. The war against corruption would go nowhere if the high and mighty are spared because of their influence and connections.

“You can’t fight corruption by allowing impunity because the rule of law cannot function where impunity is tolerated.”

Shehu explained that the conviction of Onnoghen would send a clear message that the dragnet against corruption would be “spread widely to hold public officials accountable, whether they are politicians, judges, civil servants or holding positions of public trust.”