Fight over Nigeria chief justice reaches top court

Bloomberg

Nigeria’s Senate asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether President Muhammadu Buhari breached the constitution by suspending Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, stoking political tensions in the West African nation just weeks before a general election.
The case marks a key legal test to Onnoghen’s ouster last week that’s sparked condemnation from the opposition and legal community because the Supreme Court will probably have to rule on any challenges to the fairness of the February 16 vote. Buhari, who’s seeking re-election, said he took the action against Onnoghen, accused of allegedly falsely declaring his assets, on the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Nigerian Bar Association announced a “symbolic” two-day boycott of the courts starting Tuesday and accused Buhari’s administration of “the assault, intimidation and desecration of the judiciary.” Both the US and the European Union have expressed concern that the decision could harm the legitimacy of the election.
“With so many international bodies expressing concern —and that is very strong word in diplomatic circles—about the suspension on the eve of election, they have already raised questions on the legitimacy of the outcome if the president wins, even if he wins handsomely,” said Jideofor Adibe, a political science professor at Nasarawa State University.
The main challenger to Buhari is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose People’s Democratic Party called Onnoghen’s suspension “an act of dictatorship.”