PDP Calls On Chief Justice To Protect The Judiciary From “Unconstitutional” Policies

Nigeria’s opposition party, the People Democratic Party (PDP) has implored the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen to swiftly act in protection of the judiciary from what it described as the unconstitutional and repressivie policies being forced into the system.

This comes following President Muhammadu Buhari’s executive order banning at least 50 Nigerians accused of corruption from leaving the country. The People’s Democratic Party has since then condemned the action taken by the Presidency to ban and trail citizens that are undergoing corruption trials, accusing the current administration of directly interfering in judicial process, while stifling persons of resources, under the guise of speedy trial,

In a statement by the party, which read: “In trying to use his executive order 6 to determine the process, procedures and progression of cases in court, the Buhari presidency directly seeks to usurp, commandeer and appropriate the constitutional powers of the judiciary and then arm-twist the courts and use them as ‘slaughterhouses’ for opposition members and perceived political opponents,” it said alleging that the action of the residency is a direct attempt to suspend sections 6 (6)(b), 36 (5), (6)(d) and 37 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

It has earlier reported that that President Muhammadu Buhari signed a new executive order, Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularization Scheme (VOARS), meant to target money launderers and tax evaders. In a statement by Garba Shehu on Wednesday, October 10, he said Nigerian taxpayers holding offshore assets and incomes are expected to pay taxes on them.