Hon Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives |
Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has
called for caution over the charges filed against the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Hon Justice Walter Onnoghen by the Federal Government.
In a statement issued Sunday, Dogara said that while the House awaits
further briefing from relevant agencies, nevertheless, it was important
that due process was followed because Nigeria was a country governed by
laws and not dictates of men.
He noted that the House was not less zealous in the fight against
corruption but said to commence a matter of that grave magnitude with a
media trial is pregnant with innuendos least needed by the polity at
this sensitive time.
The Speaker asserted that “Nigeria is a country governed by laws with
clearly spelt out procedures and processes for their activation and not
the dictates of men. It is important that people in authority should
excercise power with decorum and not plunge the nation to needless
crises as Nigeria is not a banana republic.
“This is a matter that affects another arm of government and its head
which should be treated with caution so as not to send the wrong signal
that there is a political undertone or other ulterior motives to the
issue.
“As we raised our voice when the National Assembly was invaded by
hooded security men last year, it is incumbent on us as the legislature
to voice our concerns because we operate under a system where three arms
of government are co – equal branches and enjoy a measure of
independence guaranteed by the Constitution.
“As we approach the general elections, it is incumbent on the
prosecutorial authorities to exercise caution and treat matters of this
nature with utmost circumspection.”
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