Politics
Presidency Replies EU, UK And US On CJN’s Suspension (Full Statement)

The Nigerian presidency, in a statement made available to lagoslately has replied the European Union, US and UK on the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.
Read the Full Statement, signed by Garba Shehu, below;
“The Presidency notes with interest the coordinated statements of the US, UK and EU linking the suspension of CJN Onnoghen to the conduct of the upcoming elections. We appreciate the concerns voiced by the three statements and accept that the authors of the statements believe they were acting in friendship toward Nigeria with regard to making the statements.
However, we also note that friends, when not properly informed or acting in haste, can indeed make serious mistakes even with the best of intentions. Such is the case here.
The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation.
The statements by the US, UK and EU speak of their respect for constitutional practice and fair elections. However, the positions they stake tend to contravene rather than strengthen these laudable objectives.
CJN Onnoghen’s situation is one of his own making and, to a large degree, his own choosing.
The CJN was brought before the CCT because of a serious breach of law regarding his assets declaration. This is not a mere technicality like innocently placing a document in a wrong file or mistakenly placing yesterday’s date on a document.
All credible evidence indicates the CJN owned and operated several secret bank accounts. Unexplained large sums of money, exceeding several million dollars have passed through these accounts. Several thousand dollars are currently parked in the accounts. Multiple deposits of equal sums of money were deposited in some of those accounts during the same day. Such rapid and equal deposits are indicative of a person attempting to evade banking reporting laws and regulations.
Thus far, CJN Onnoghen has given no plausible explanation for the funds or for failing to report the subject accounts in his assets declaration despite having ample time and opportunity to explain the omission. Given the amount of money involved and the CJN’s inability to explain the source of the funds, the most plausible explanation at this point is also the most unfortunate explanation. No one did this to CJN Onnoghen. He and he alone is to blame for this turn of events.
Over the years and with great frequency, the authors of the three statements have advised and even chided Nigeria about official corruption. Now we are presented with the sad and unwanted situation where the CJN is discovered to have a vast, unexplained amount of money in his pocket.
Because of this he has been thoroughly discredited. It is untenable that a person in such compromised circumstances would be allowed to preside over the entire judicial system of a great nation. That would travesty the nation and what it stands for.
Had the situation been reversed and the US, UK or any EU member government found that its chief judicial official is the recipient of large sums of money of questionable origin and Nigeria suggested that you retain the person in that position, you would question Nigeria’s bona fides. You also would swiftly move to suspend the official pending final determination of the causes against him.
Not one of your nations would allow a person enmeshed in legal uncertainty to preside over your legal systems until the cloud has been cleared from him. That would incentivize corruption and assault the rule of law.
Thus, the CJN should have and could have helped the process in this regard by recusing himself from the bench until this matter is settled.
Instead, he indefinitely postponed a NJC meeting for no plausible reason except to avoid any consideration of this matter by the NJC.
Again, this calls into question his motives while undermining the normal operations of the judiciary. The CJN cannot be allowed to use his office to shield himself from the normal operation of the law as applied to any other jurist or any other Nigerian for that matter. Such a ruse is effectively an abuse of office. His position is one of utmost public trust; it is not a shield to protect him from the fair consequence of his own actions.
Despite these errors and omissions by the CJN, let us make this very clear, he has not been removed from office. Nor has he been permanently replaced. Those who claim that he has been permanently removed, do so out of imprecision of thought or mischief.
CJN Onnoghen has been suspended pending the final determination of the substantive issues in his matter. The suspension is only temporary. This is only as it should be. He cannot sit as both defendant and umpire in his own matter. No legal system allows for such self-interested adjudication; the US, UK and EU should not now ask us to embrace such an anomaly.
While the three friends seem to give much credence to those who question the constitutionality of the suspension, they seem to give less to those who believe what we did is constitutional and protective of the integrity of the judiciary. Only the three can answer why they have assumed this bias.
Last, the three make a curious direct linkage between the CJN suspension and the elections. However, in Nigerian law there is no such linkage. The CJN does not run the election. Nor is he the first arbiter of any electoral complaints. He and the Supreme Court will only get involved as the final arbiter at the end of the appellate process.
For the authors to link the CJN to the elections in this way is illogical unless they assume that election complaints will be filed and will go all the way to the Supreme Court. Here perhaps they know something about the intentions of certain political actors to which we are not privy.
Yet, even with that, the US , UK and EU should want any such matters to be heard by a Supreme Court led by a CJN without an obvious and outstanding ethical and legal blemish on his ledger. To have such a person preside over any case, would call into question the impartiality of any decision rendered and undermine the rule of law.
This cannot be what these three friends of Nigeria intended. Thus, they should do a bit more research on this matter and refrain from being too hastily attracted by the arguments of those who have partisan agenda at odds with the government’s positions on most matters and who thus hope to use this issue as a new arrow in their quiver of partisan contestations.”The Nigerian presidency, in a statement sent to PoliticsNGR, has replied the European Union, US and UK on the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.
Read the Full Statement, signed by Garba Shehu, below;
“The Presidency notes with interest the coordinated statements of the US, UK and EU linking the suspension of CJN Onnoghen to the conduct of the upcoming elections. We appreciate the concerns voiced by the three statements and accept that the authors of the statements believe they were acting in friendship toward Nigeria with regard to making the statements.
However, we also note that friends, when not properly informed or acting in haste, can indeed make serious mistakes even with the best of intentions. Such is the case here.
The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation.
The statements by the US, UK and EU speak of their respect for constitutional practice and fair elections. However, the positions they stake tend to contravene rather than strengthen these laudable objectives.
CJN Onnoghen’s situation is one of his own making and, to a large degree, his own choosing.
The CJN was brought before the CCT because of a serious breach of law regarding his assets declaration. This is not a mere technicality like innocently placing a document in a wrong file or mistakenly placing yesterday’s date on a document.
All credible evidence indicates the CJN owned and operated several secret bank accounts. Unexplained large sums of money, exceeding several million dollars have passed through these accounts. Several thousand dollars are currently parked in the accounts. Multiple deposits of equal sums of money were deposited in some of those accounts during the same day. Such rapid and equal deposits are indicative of a person attempting to evade banking reporting laws and regulations.
Thus far, CJN Onnoghen has given no plausible explanation for the funds or for failing to report the subject accounts in his assets declaration despite having ample time and opportunity to explain the omission. Given the amount of money involved and the CJN’s inability to explain the source of the funds, the most plausible explanation at this point is also the most unfortunate explanation. No one did this to CJN Onnoghen. He and he alone is to blame for this turn of events.
Over the years and with great frequency, the authors of the three statements have advised and even chided Nigeria about official corruption. Now we are presented with the sad and unwanted situation where the CJN is discovered to have a vast, unexplained amount of money in his pocket.
Because of this he has been thoroughly discredited. It is untenable that a person in such compromised circumstances would be allowed to preside over the entire judicial system of a great nation. That would travesty the nation and what it stands for.
Had the situation been reversed and the US, UK or any EU member government found that its chief judicial official is the recipient of large sums of money of questionable origin and Nigeria suggested that you retain the person in that position, you would question Nigeria’s bona fides. You also would swiftly move to suspend the official pending final determination of the causes against him.
Not one of your nations would allow a person enmeshed in legal uncertainty to preside over your legal systems until the cloud has been cleared from him. That would incentivize corruption and assault the rule of law.
Thus, the CJN should have and could have helped the process in this regard by recusing himself from the bench until this matter is settled.
Instead, he indefinitely postponed a NJC meeting for no plausible reason except to avoid any consideration of this matter by the NJC.
Again, this calls into question his motives while undermining the normal operations of the judiciary. The CJN cannot be allowed to use his office to shield himself from the normal operation of the law as applied to any other jurist or any other Nigerian for that matter. Such a ruse is effectively an abuse of office. His position is one of utmost public trust; it is not a shield to protect him from the fair consequence of his own actions.
Despite these errors and omissions by the CJN, let us make this very clear, he has not been removed from office. Nor has he been permanently replaced. Those who claim that he has been permanently removed, do so out of imprecision of thought or mischief.
CJN Onnoghen has been suspended pending the final determination of the substantive issues in his matter. The suspension is only temporary. This is only as it should be. He cannot sit as both defendant and umpire in his own matter. No legal system allows for such self-interested adjudication; the US, UK and EU should not now ask us to embrace such an anomaly.
While the three friends seem to give much credence to those who question the constitutionality of the suspension, they seem to give less to those who believe what we did is constitutional and protective of the integrity of the judiciary. Only the three can answer why they have assumed this bias.
Last, the three make a curious direct linkage between the CJN suspension and the elections. However, in Nigerian law there is no such linkage. The CJN does not run the election. Nor is he the first arbiter of any electoral complaints. He and the Supreme Court will only get involved as the final arbiter at the end of the appellate process.
For the authors to link the CJN to the elections in this way is illogical unless they assume that election complaints will be filed and will go all the way to the Supreme Court. Here perhaps they know something about the intentions of certain political actors to which we are not privy.
Yet, even with that, the US , UK and EU should want any such matters to be heard by a Supreme Court led by a CJN without an obvious and outstanding ethical and legal blemish on his ledger. To have such a person preside over any case, would call into question the impartiality of any decision rendered and undermine the rule of law.
This cannot be what these three friends of Nigeria intended. Thus, they should do a bit more research on this matter and refrain from being too hastily attracted by the arguments of those who have partisan agenda at odds with the government’s positions on most matters and who thus hope to use this issue as a new arrow in their quiver of partisan contestations.”
Politics
I Was There, Obi Never Offered You Anything – Journalist Replies Adeyanju

Veteran journalist, author, and columnist, Ike Abonyi, has dismissed recent allegations by human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, attempted to offer him money in exchange for political support.
Abonyi, who disclosed that he personally arranged and attended the meeting between Obi and Adeyanju ahead of the 2023 elections, insisted that no such offer was ever made.
In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, Abonyi described Adeyanju’s claims as false and misleading.
“It pains me to publicly disagree with a friend, but I cannot remain silent while untruths are being spread,” Abonyi wrote. “Deji Adeyanju recently claimed that he withdrew support for Mr. Obi after Obi admitted to investing Anambra State funds in his family business. I was present at that meeting, which lasted about three hours, and at no point did Obi make such a statement or offer money. I was deeply shocked when I read Deji’s post.”
Abonyi revealed that immediately after reading Adeyanju’s July 26, 2022, tweet, he sent him a private message:
“Deji, did you and Obi meet again apart from the one I attended? Haba! I’m shocked. You are free to support anyone you choose, but blackmailing with falsehoods is not right. You didn’t even consider our friendship.”
He added that this was not the first time Adeyanju had made negative remarks about Obi. On July 9, 2022, following another post where Adeyanju suggested Obi could accept a political appointment from APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, Abonyi said he reached out again:
>“My brother, when did it get to this? Obi is not looking for any job Tinubu has to offer. Even if you no longer support the Obi project, please stay on issues that will protect your reputation.”
Abonyi said Adeyanju never responded to his messages or answered his calls, despite his efforts to settle the matter privately.
He stressed that throughout the meeting, no financial inducement was offered or promised, noting that Obi simply shared his personal and political journey—stories he had publicly repeated many times before.
The journalist further recalled that Adeyanju had, on several occasions in the past, openly described Obi as the best candidate and had even encouraged him to leave the PDP to pursue his presidential ambition elsewhere.
“Adeyanju has every right to withdraw his support from Obi if he chooses,” Abonyi stated. “But what he must not do is base his change of position on lies and unfounded claims.”

News
Imo State Bans Nursery and JSS3 Graduation Parties, Restricts Frequent Textbook Changes

The Imo State Government has announced new policies aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents and strengthening focus on academics in schools.
In a memo dated August 15, 2025, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, directed that graduation parties for nursery pupils and Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) students are no longer allowed. Going forward, only Primary 6 and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) students are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies, in line with Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
“The Ministry is committed to providing quality and functional education to every child in the state,” Ikegwuoha said. “Graduation ceremonies for Kindergarten, Nursery, and JSS3 are hereby abolished. The focus must remain on celebrating academic milestones at the completion of primary and secondary education cycles.”
The Commissioner also condemned the frequent change of textbooks in private and faith-based schools, describing it as an unnecessary financial strain on families. He ordered that approved textbooks must be retained for at least four years to enable siblings and other students to reuse them.
“School proprietors are hereby warned to desist from the annual change of textbooks,” Ikegwuoha stressed. “Maintaining a stable textbook list for four years will not only cut costs for parents but also create a more consistent and effective learning environment.”
According to the Ministry, these measures are part of efforts to build a more stable, affordable, and student-centered education system in Imo State.
News
2027: Atiku Suspends ADC Membership Plans Amid Jonathan Comeback Rumors

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has put on hold his plan to collect his African Democratic Congress (ADC) membership card, a move that has sparked fresh speculation about former President Goodluck Jonathan’s possible return to the 2027 presidential race. Reports suggest the ADC may be making moves to woo Jonathan.
Atiku, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after months of internal crisis, was scheduled to formalize his ADC membership in a public ceremony in Jada, Adamawa State, on Wednesday, August 6.
The event, to be overseen by senior ADC leaders, has now been postponed indefinitely. Atiku’s camp has not given any official explanation for the sudden change in plans.

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