Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) To Embark On A Two-Day Court Boycott Over The Unconstitutional Removal Of CJN Onnoghen!

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) today resolved to embark on a two-day nationwide court boycott, starting from Tuesday 29th to Wednesday the 30th January 2019, to protest the constitutional removal of Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria.  

The umbrella of legal practitioners in Nigeria reached the decision Monday at an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the NBA Auditorium, NBA House, Plot 1101 Muhamadu Buhari Way, Cadastral Zone A00 Central Area, Abuja.  

Attendance at the NEC meeting was limited only to Statutory NEC members, who are national officers, past presidents, past general secretaries, branch chairmen, branch secretaries, branch NEC representatives and chairmen and secretaries of sections.  

As all Nigerian lawyers are automatic members of the NBA, the resolution means all lawyers anywhere in the country will be absent in court for two days.  

President Buhari suspended Onnoghen as the CJN on Friday and swore in Tanko Mohammed in an acting capacity, leading to widespread condemnation both from home and abroad

Meanwhile, the embattled CJN this evening released a statement signed by his media aide, Awassam Bassey, dismissing the rumour making waves that the CJN has resigned. 

The statement read in parts; “mischief makers are still circulating this fake news. Once again, no truth in it whatsoever. The Hon CJN, Hon Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has not resigned,” Bassey said.

The rumour came less than 24 hours to the emergency meeting summoned by the National Judicial Council to deliberate on Onnoghen’s suspension and Muhammad’s emergence as the Acting CJN.