International observers have expressed concern about the suspension of Nigeria's chief justice - just three weeks before a general election.

Judge Walter Onnoghen was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

He is facing charges for allegedly failing to declare his personal assets before taking office in 2017.

But the EU, UK and US have taken serious issue with his removal, suggesting it could "cast a pall over the electoral process".

Mr Buhari's decision has been called "an act of dictatorship" by his main challenger in next month's election, Atiku Abubakar.Opposition politicians have halted campaigning in protest at the president's decision to suspend the head of the Supreme Court.

President Buhari, who is seeking a second term, has often accused the judiciary of frustrating his anti-corruption fight.

However, no details have been given on the reasons behind the move.

Why the international pressure?
As the head of the judiciary, Nigeria's chief justice plays a vital role in settling election disputes.

The charges against the top judge and his subsequent suspension just before elections are widely seen as politically motivated.

The suspension came less than 24 hours before Mr Onnoghen was scheduled to swear in members of election tribunals.

"The decision to suspend the chief justice has led to many Nigerians, including lawyers and civil society observer groups, to question whether due process was followed," said the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in a statement.The US embassy said it was "deeply concerned" at the decision to replace Judge Onnoghen "without the support of the legislative branch on the eve of national and state elections".

The British High Commission also expressed "serious concern over the suspension", saying in a statement: "It risks affecting both domestic and international perceptions on the credibility of the forthcoming elections".




https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47015698

This man has disgraced Nigeria in the open. They will be looking at us as people who know nothing about governance.

The so called international community seems not to be aware of what has led to the ouster of C(T)hief justice Onoghen. They seem to be fanning the embers of discord with their ignorant statements. In which of these countries will a billionaire C(T)hief justice fail to declare their assets and they will allow them to continue serving because they have elections ahead?

Buhari is a curse to Nigeria.

DrGoodman:
Thus man has disgraced Nigeria in the open. They will be looking at us as people who know nothing about governance.

Where was this community when Jonathan suspended Salami and Sanusi? Balderdash.

JusticeSeeker:
The so called international community seems not to be aware of what has led to the ouster of C(T)hief justice Onoghen. They seem to be fanning the embers of discord with their ignorant statements. In which of these countries will a billionaire C(T)hief justice fail to declare their assets and they will allow them to continue serving because they have elections ahead?

What does the code of conduct rules say if someone fails to declare any asset, do you know?

I know you will be ignorant about that but will be shooting your mouth like catapult.

JusticeSeeker:
Where was this community when Jonathan suspended Salami and Sanusi? Balderdash.

Salami was suspended after the council recommendations

Sanusi was sacked because Jonathan has the powers to kick his azz, constitutionally

DrGoodman:
This man has disgraced Nigeria in the open. They will be looking at us as people who know nothing about governance.

What we have are leaders who are only concerned about their pockets.

Flexherbal:


What we have are leaders who are only concerned about their pockets.

We have leaders who are concerned about destroying the country.

DrGoodman:


Salami was suspended after the council recommendations

Sanusi was sacked because Jonathan has the powers to kick his azz, constitutionally

CBN governor's removal process is same as the CJN moreover, Buhari hasn't removed Onoghen, he's been suspended.

International community ! my butt against who precisely ?
feb16 is a few day, should your candidate lose then start your agitation !
These time around, no time for some obvious child punt

The people who advised PMB to suspend the CJN have achieved their aim. PMB will be labelled by international community as a dictator.
The international community will start getting suspecious of every moves by PMB. His good deeds will be misinterpreted.
Nigeria is not presently strong like Iran and North Korea to call the international community bluff.