Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari and his attorney general, Abubakar Malami, of manipulating Nigeria’s judiciary to influence the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.
According to Clark, the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen was a calculated move aimed at enabling electoral malpractice.
He described the act as “disgraceful, callous, unjust, and barbaric,” raising concerns about the erosion of judicial integrity under Buhari’s administration.
In a letter to the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Clark praised the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling that cleared Justice Onnoghen of all charges related to false asset declaration.
He described the decision as a victory for justice and a step towards restoring credibility to Nigeria’s judiciary.
“President Buhari humiliated and oppressed Justice Onnoghen, all because he stood as a barrier to their plans for the 2019 elections,” Clark asserted, calling for greater accountability within the judicial system.
Furthermore, Clark criticized the silence of key judicial bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council during Onnoghen’s suspension.
He alleged that the removal of the former CJN was strategically orchestrated to sideline judicial impartiality in favor of unconstitutional practices.
Calling for reform, Clark urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize governance free from favoritism, emphasizing that leaders with integrity must set an example for future generations.
