National Christian Elders Forum says Onnoghen's suspension is part of an Islamist agenda

NIGERIA'S National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has staged a protest against the suspension of the chief justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari saying the move is part of a grand Islamic agenda.

Last Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Justice Onnoghen and replaced him with Justice Tanko Mohammed, who was sworn-in as the acting chief judge of Nigeria (CJN). Over the last few weeks, Justice Onnoghen has been involved in intense political jockeying with the government that involved him being charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Justice Onnoghen challenged the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him and filed a motion to that effect and there are several other legal suits on the matter also pending. Despite the matter still being before the law courts, President Buhari decided to suspend Justice Onnoghen and replace him with the Bauchi State-born Justice Mohammed.

Following a recent meeting on the matter, the NCEF condemned the move and called on Nigerians to mobilise themselves to resist such an ideology in the country. NCEF chairman Solomon Asemota, issued a statement titled CJN Onnoghen: What is really at stake and the way out, in which he said the removal was part of an attempt to Islamise Nigeria.

Members of the group include Lt General Theophilus Danjuma, Solomon Asemota, Professor Joseph Otubu, Lt General Joshua Dogonyaro, Dr Kate Okpareke, Dr Ayo Abifarin, Major General Zamani Lekwot, Elder Moses Ihonde, Elder Nat Okoro and Elder Matthew Owojaiye. Others are Justice Kalajine Anigbogu, Elder Shyngle Wigwe, Potter Dabup, Sir John Bagu, Dr Saleh Hussaini, Elder Mike Orobator, Justice James Ogebe, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Debo Omotosho, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Dr SD Gani, Mrs Osaretin Demuren and Professor Yussuf Turaki.

Their communiqué read: “In 2015, Nigerians unwittingly elected an Islamist government into office, supposedly on a platform of democracy. It is with this as background that the questionable suspension of the CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, should be situated as the judicial coup is not only against the judiciary but also the constitution that is under attack and with it, the sovereignty of the Nigerian state as a democratic nation.

“Islamism is not a religion but a political ideology which holds that wherever Islam is, Islam must dominate. That is one reason why Islamism is called political Islam.

"However, while all Islamists are Muslims, all Muslims are not Islamists. The National Christian Elders Forum is calling on Nigerians to mobilise to resist the Islamists in Nigeria and ensure that they do not return to power again so that Nigerians can concentrate on building a just and equitable society.”