The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raided the Abuja residence of Justice Walter Onnoghen embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. The raid comes amidst allegations of false assets and non-assets declaration levelled against Onnoghen in a petition filed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of Afenifere, who confirmed the incident in a short video made available to Realnews, said the EFCC is 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.

“The CCB had acted on an earlier petition written to it and the EFCC by Dennis Aghanya, executive secretary, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative, ARDI. Aghanya is a former media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

However, the EFCC has debunked the allegation as fake news.  In a statement issued on Tuesday, Tony Orilade, acting head, Media and Publicity EFCC said  “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.

“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 destabilization. We would not give in to their plots.

“One of the architect of the fake news, Femi Fani-Kayode, was quoted 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”. Another arrowhead of the fake news, Yinka Odumakin shared a non-existent video which has gone viral.

“We want to assure Nigerians that while we would 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.”

– Jan. 15, 2019 @ 9:48 GMT /

– Jan. 15, 2019 @ 19:29 GMT |