Elder statesman Edwin Clark has addressed an open letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commending her reform efforts in the judiciary while revisiting the controversial removal of Justice Walter Onnoghen as CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
In the letter, made public in Abuja on Sunday, Clark described the ousting of Justice Onnoghen as “callous, unjust, and barbaric,” stating it was a stain on Nigeria’s democratic record.
“Without an efficient and incorruptible judiciary, Nigeria will end up as a failed country,” Clark wrote, expressing optimism that the CJN’s ongoing reforms will rebuild public confidence in the judiciary.
The elder statesman detailed how Onnoghen’s removal was orchestrated to align the judiciary with Buhari’s political goals during the 2019 presidential election. He alleged that due process was flagrantly disregarded, as the National Judicial Council (NJC) was bypassed, and tribunals under Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, Onnoghen’s successor, were manipulated to favor Buhari’s re-election.
Clark further recalled the irony in the case, noting that Onnoghen had once been part of a Supreme Court panel whose verdict upheld Buhari’s position in the 2011 presidential election dispute. He suggested that Onnoghen’s independent stance posed a threat to Buhari’s second-term ambitions, leading to his removal.
“Justice Onnoghen was unjustly humiliated and targeted to compromise the judiciary ahead of the elections,” Clark asserted.
The elder statesman extended his criticism to the broader culture of impunity under Buhari’s administration, drawing parallels to autocratic practices. “Sacred cows must not exist in Nigeria, no matter whose ox is gored,” he stated, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritize accountability and ensure that no individual or officeholder is above the law.
Clark also addressed the recurring tendency of former leaders to evade scrutiny, noting, “Today in Nigeria, we have corrupt presidents accusing their successors of corruption without reflecting on their own actions in office.”
He praised Justice Kekere-Ekun’s resolve to clean up the judiciary, describing her efforts as vital to Nigeria’s democratic survival. He called for an impartial investigation into past injustices, emphasizing the need for legal redress to restore public trust and strengthen the rule of law.
In conclusion, Clark hinted at the possibility of taking Buhari’s actions to court, stressing that accountability must be upheld to set a precedent for future administrations. “It is time to bring those responsible for such gross injustices to trial,” he urged.
