CJN: Opposition parties laud Court of Appeal’s verdict

say it’s victory for democracy, rule of law

Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties, on Thursday, lauded the Court of Appeal for restraining the Code of Conduct Tribunal from proceeding with hearing in the false assets declaration suit filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The first national spokesperson of CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere, made the position of the opposition parties known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

Ugochinyere described the verdict as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

He said the opposition parties stood for the independence of the judiciary and would fight to protect such sacred institutions from being destroyed.

The statement read, “The Coalition of United Political Parties received with joy the news of the ruling of the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal which sat in Abuja and restrained the Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal from continuing with the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending the determination of the main motion.

“The opposition sees the ruling as victory for democracy and rule of law and a fatal blow to the All Progressives Congress political barbarians who are desperate to annex the Supreme Court to the list of their already destroyed national institutions.

“We advise APC to build a private court for their members as the Nigerian court cannot be intimidated to submit to the leadership of the outgoing ruling party.

“The opposition coalition stands for the independence of the judiciary and will fight with the last drop of its blood to protect such sacred institutions from being destroyed.”