President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja explained to the Yoruba social-political group, Afenifere. why he suspended the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.
Buhari met with the group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
After his suspension, Onnoghen voluntarily retired on May 28, 2019.
Buhari said he reluctantly dealt with Onnoghen, having discovered that a huge amount of monies (both in foreign and local currencies) were traced to him.
His words: “I will tell you as Afenifere, that was why I had to deal though reluctantly with the former Chief Justice, because there were millions of dollars, euros, not to talk of naira, which were not declared.
“I wonder what sort of conscience some of us have. How can you sit and preside and lock people up for years and even sentence some to death and yet you are not doing what the constitution says you should do by occupying that vital institution.
“On fighting corruption, you know it – again I don’t mind repeating myself even though I sound like a broken record – as a military head of state, I took everyone to prison and pronounced them guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.
“We put tribunals in all geo-political zones and they investigated those who were in charge of government money and took all of them in prison until they explained what happened to government’s money. Even I was detained, this is Nigeria.
“That was why I decided to put on agbada and see. I attempted three times, up to the Supreme Court. And winning the fourth time, thanking God and technology, I am now qualified to be a solider and a politician.
“… now what I do is when a person cannot justify what he has or fails to declare as the constitution specifies, some of them declare to Almighty God that their property doesn’t belong to them until we show them their bank accounts and their companies.’’
He spoke further: “So, we are recovering as much as we can under the system and this time around I said the properties will be sold and the money put in the treasury.
“The last time they were given back their properties but this time around whoever comes after me no matter how generous he is, he cannot take money from the treasury give it to individuals, it will be impossible.
“But anybody who cannot account for what he has and refuses to declare, we will have to do something about it.’’
Speaking on behalf of Afenifere, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye said they visited the president to congratulate him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the victory at the general election.
This is as he also praised the government for recognizing June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, M.K.O. Abiola.
Said he: “We are proud of our contributions to your victory through the Yoruba Summit Conference held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre on January 29.
“There, we passed a well-applauded motion urging all the people of Western Nigeria origin of voting age to vote for your re-election by virtue of your people-oriented and welfarist APC political programmes and performance. We are happy the people complied.
“We are also here to commend Your Excellency for your recognition of June 12 as a landmark in the political history of Nigeria and for naming the National Stadium in Abuja after Chief MKO Abiola, the hero of Nigeria’s pro-Democracy struggle.
“We are equally glad to note and commend Your Excellency for your efforts to empower the 36 states in Nigeria to have control of the Police as a measure of improving security.’’
While commending the government for the giant strides taken in improving agriculture, social intervention, revival and modernisation of rail transportation, and efforts to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway among other, the Afenifere chieftain stressed the need to ensure the unity of the country.
Durojaiye stressed the need for the government to do more on security, education, youth employment, power supply and agriculture.
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was in the team, called on Nigerians and ensure peace in order to promote the growth of the country.
