that has split the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was stalled by interference from politicians belonging to the two factions within the former ruling party.
The case was
originally scheduled for a final ruling last week. However, the verdict was
postponed as politicians loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
learned that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was
interfering in the case. According to the source, the Chief Justice was telling
the other justices involved in the case not to give a ruling that might weaken
the PDP. Justice Onnoghen reportedly told his colleagues that any ruling that
could lead to the death or weakening of the PDP would be dangerous for Nigeria
since the country could not thrive without a vibrant opposition party.
Our source
said the meddling of the CJN appalled some of the Supreme Court justices. Justice
Onnoghen’s colleagues felt that his admonition was unnecessary and at odds with
the position of law. The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that the Ali Modu
Sheriff-led faction of the party was the lawful one.
Mr. Sheriff,
a former governor of Borno State, is known to be cozy with many officials of
the ruling APC. Numerous members of the PDP believe the ex-governor was on a
mission to tear apart the PDP in order to strengthen the APC in the country.
Mr. Sheriff’s critics also accuse him of being a paid agent of the Muhammadu
Buhari regime.
In a similar
vein, a security source told our correspondent that Justice Onnoghen’s
interference amounted to partisan activism on behalf of his friends within the
PDP. Justice Onnoghen is quite close to former Governor Godswill Akpabio of
Akwa Ibom. Our security source suggested that the Chief Justice was playing the
part of go-between Mr. Akpabio, who is now a senator, and some of the justices
handling the PDP case. According to the source, Justice Onnoghen had already
signaled to PDP heavyweights that the Supreme Court would rule in their favor.
He added that the assurance was responsible for the recent exuberance and
outright jubilation within the PDP camp led by Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele
Fayose backed by Mr. Akpabio.
According to
our security source, President Muhammadu Buhari had initially balked at
nominating Justice Onnoghen as the substantive CJN because agents of the
Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) had discovered huge dollar deposits domiciliary accounts
linked to the judge. He said the deposits came to light as the judge was being
screened prior to clearance to assume the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“Because of
the findings, President Buhari decided to hold off on nominating [Justice
Onnoghen] as CJN. However, when the pressure mounted on Mr. President while he
was away on medical vacation in London, he was accused of playing sectional
politics, he had to let things go. Besides, the next person in line to become
CJN was Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, who is a northerner. Justice Muhammad
originally came to the Supreme Court as a Sharia appeals judge. He reportedly
has close to 40 kids.
Until
Justice Onnoghen’s name was finally forwarded as CJN, no person born in the
southern half of Nigeria had held the position since 1987 when Justice Ayo
Gabriel Irikefe, a southerner, served in that position.
Our judicial
source said he expected the Supreme Court to rule next week on the PDP crisis.
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