The Presidency has described the conviction of Walter Onnoghen, embattled former Chief Justice of the Federation, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as a victory for this government’s anti-corruption war.
Garba Shehu, the a top aide to the president, noted this in a statement made available to Okay Nigeria on Thursday evening.
He stated that the final verdict passed at the Tribunal demonstrated clearly that ”the law is no respecter of persons, titles, social or political connections”.
Shehu said that the essence of the rule of law is to hold everyone accountable before the law, regardless of their status in the society.
The statement continued:
“The rule of law will lose its meaning and validity if only the weak, the poor and powerless are punished for their violations of the law.
”Countries succeed because the rule of law is evenly upheld and enforced. The war against corruption would go nowhere if the high and mighty are spared because of their influence and connections.
”You can’t fight corruption by allowing impunity because the rule of law cannot function where impunity is tolerated.”
The presidential spokesman also pointed out that the conviction of Onnoghen would send a clear message that the dragnet against corruption would be ”spread widely to hold public officials accountable, whether they are politicians, judges, civil servants or holding positions of public trust.”
Onnoghen was found guilty at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for false asset declaration.
