Alleged Corruption: Suspend Amaechi, Onu, PDP Tells Buhari
The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and that of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu, for alleged corruption.
Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, undergoing investigations for alleged corruption, alleged that Amaechi asked them to subvert justice in some electoral petitions before them. On his part, Ngwuta mentioned only Onu, who he alleged asked him to nullify the governorship election in Ebonyi State.
The two judges were suspended alongside five others by the NJC on Thursday due to investigations by the Department of State Services.
And the Spokesman of the Makarfi-led faction Dayo Adeyeye, who made the call in a statement, argued that if the National Judicial Council could suspend the seven judges whose names were mentioned in the scandal, then the President should do the same.
His statement said, “It is important to note that Justices Ngwuta and Okoro have alleged that they are the targets of a witch-hunt because they refused offers of inducement and bribes made to them by the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, to subvert the course of justice in appeals against the decisions of lower courts in election petitions in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and Rivers states.
“In order to allow for a fair and independent investigation, it is incumbent on President Muhammadu Buhari to ask these ministers to step aside pending the conclusion of investigations into these issues.
Follow the path of the NJC, PDP tells Buhari
He called on the President to emulate the NJC, which ordered the suspension of the seven justices pending the conclusion of investigations against them.
But the All Progressives Congress had called on the President to ignore the call for the sacking of the ministers.
Chairman, Rivers State chapter of the APC Davies Ibiamu-Ikanya defended the two ministers in a statement.
He said, “We urge Mr. President and Nigerians to completely disregard PDP call for the sacking of Amaechi and Onu.
“Why should they be sacked? What crime did they commit for PDP to call for their sack? These fine gentlemen did nothing wrong.
“Mr. President should not and cannot act based on mere accusations from the two Supreme Court Justices without an iota of proof or evidence to back their claims.”
