Justice Walter Onnoghen, the chief justice of Nigeria, CJN, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have denied the report of the alleged raid of the CJN’s residence by the anti-graft agency. Awassam Bassey, senior special adviser to the CJN on media, described the story as false news. “I really don’t know where they got the information from. So many media men were here earlier with cameras over the same report. But what I can tell you for now is that there was no such thing. It is false news,” Bassey was quoted as saying.

On its part, the EFCC said it neither arrested nor extended any invitation to the CJN, and also described the report as fake news sponsored by those he referred to as agents of destabilisation. “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the falsehood which has been spreading on the social media that the EFCC has arrested the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

“This is not only a figment of the imagination of the purveyor of the fake news, but an evil machination by the creator and carriers of the news aimed at creating anarchy in the country. For the record, the EFCC never went to the house of the CJN for arrest neither was invitation extended to him,” the commission said in a statement.

Tony Orilade, the acting head, media and publicity, EFCC, who issued the statement said: “several calls and short messages received all point to the fact that the brains behind the fake news had one thing in mind: to act as agent of destabilisation. We would not give in to their plots.”

He quoted a former minister whom he alleged as the architect of the fake news, as saying: “Why have the EFCC surrounded the home of CJN Onnoghen and why are they seeking to arrest him? These people want Nigeria to burn! Buhari call off your dogs before it is too late! This is a democracy and not a gestapo state! In the name of God let this madness stop.”

While claiming that another arrowhead of the fake news, shared a “non-existent” video, which he said had gone viral, Orilade assured Nigerians that while the agency will fight corruption in line with the mandate setting up the commission, “agents of darkness, in the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and his cohorts, would never be able to manipulate the people against the commission.

“We also want to assure Fani-Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and other purveyors of the evil news to be ready to defend their actions in the court of law as the EFCC will file libel suit against them without further delay,” he said.

On behalf of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, Odumakin had in a short video made available to Realnews, accused the EFCC of making efforts to arrest the CJN. “It has just come to our notice that men of the EFCC are currently at the gate of the CJN to effect his arrest despite the fact that the matter in the issue is still in court. We cannot understand the desperation by this administration to heat up the polity by carrying pour this arrest action.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the EFCC to order not to create unnecessary tension in the system by effecting the arrest of the CJN when the matter is in court. It is not in the best interest of the government of Nigeria to be encouraging people to do self help. They should ensure that they maintain the rule of law. Impunity is too much and the president should see to it that this does not continue.”

– Jan. 16, 2019 @ 11:55 GMT |