Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen has said that his right to a fair hearing was breached when he was accused of breaching the Code of Conduct for public officers and subsequently removed from office in 2019.
The former CJN who gave an account of his removal from office before his retirement noted that he was not given an opportunity to be heard during the unfortunate incident.
He made these statement at the unveiling of a book ” Fundamental Rights ( Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.
Two years after the former Chief Justice Of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen was unceremoniously removed from office, the retired jurist has again spoken publicly about the ordeal that led to his removal, and fittingly during the unveiling of a book on fundamental Rights (enforcement procedures) rules, 2019.
Onnoghen said his case represented a clear breach of the constitutional right to fair hearing.
Justice Walter Onnoghene who was the CJN from 2017 to 2019, noted that politicizing the appointment of judicial officers will only lead to democratic doom in Nigeria.
Former Attorney General of the Federation Kanu Agabi also recalled the humiliating experience some judges were subjected to in 2016 following a midnight raid on their residences.
The book Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, authored by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja analyses issues relating to procedures, proceedings, jurisdiction, and enforcement of fundamental rights in Nigeria.
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The fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules aims at helping judges and lawyers give urgent remedies to cases of human rights abuses in the country.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
