Chidiebere Nwobodo
I saw it coming; cried as much as I could but I was told not to cry more than the bereaved. Judiciary has been weakened today. It has been unofficially annexed. No judge will give judgment against the government in a case the Villa cabal has substantial interest in again. The Fulani cabal running this government has made a bold and resounding statement that will reverberate across the nooks and crannies of this contraption called Nigeria for years. They just told the rest of Nigeria that “we own this country”; “we call the shots”. The Fulani Mafia in the judiciary aka Bauchi Connection has finally hijacked the grand temple of justice. Walter Onnoghen’s fate was decided even before his suspension. What played out today, was the final version of the script. The judiciary, PDP, civil societies, Media And Nigerian people all failed Onnoghen, but the temple of justice is the biggest casualty here.
Justice has left the court. Even a supposed Chief Justice couldn’t get Justice. Rule of ethno-religious supremacist cabal has informally replaced rule of law. Nigerian Constitution lost more of its reverence today—it is more like toilet tissue paper. The power of life and death; freedom and imprisonment has been handed over to few morally debased souls in power. Once you are marked for destruction; nowhere to run to. You can wake up next morning; hauled to court like common criminal on trump up charges, tried without fair hearing, condemned in the media before the agents of tyranny finally seals your fate with prejudiced judgment, why some moronic savages and online urchins pervading cyberspace hails your crucifixion as fight against corruption.
My consolation comes from the fact that I did my best. I raised my voice when it mattered. But like few voices in the dark wilderness of totalitarianism, it was so faint to make appreciable impact. My conscience was satisfied. What happened today is victory pyrrhic for despotism and defeat of democracy as enshrined in principles of separation of powers. Judiciary has fallen! National Assembly will fall on the 9th of June—that’s the day Buhari will become full blown tyrant. There will not be institutional checks and balances again. Nigeria will metamorphose into Emirate where Buhari rules as emir from his palace called Aso Villa. Very unfortunate.
To Justice Walter Onnoghen: men in power might have persecuted and summarily convicted you for absolute power, but posterity will be fair to you. In the eyes of discerning Nigerians, you’re innocent—your integrity, dignity and reputation are all intact. You’re a victim of ethno-religious bigotry of those in position of authority. They know you’re innocent. They’re simply afraid of your ability to dispense justice not minding whose ox is gored. They’re afraid of independent judiciary under your watch. They’re terrified of your incorruptibility.
As part of indefatigable and sagacious justices that wrote minority judgment against a sitting president in 2007, whilst your former colleagues—Justices Oguntade and Nsofor were compensated with juicy ambassadorial positions to United Kingdom and United States, respectively, you’re being persecuted and humiliated for being consistent and steadfast with the same strong character cum principles Muhammadu Buhari graciously benefited from as a presidential candidate seeking for justice.
They have ruled to suit their ethno-religious idiosyncrasies but ultimate judgement lies with Grand Chief Justice of Universe who controls the celestial powers. The real judgment of God is dangling like the sword of damocles—and will soon strike. Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, you have fought a good fight of faith, you have finished the race, it is time to handover the sword of vengeance to God.
