The president had suspended the ex-CJN before he was charged with false
assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Speaking when leaders of Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-political group,
visited him on Tuesday, Buhari said Onnoghen had to go because he acted
in violation of the office he occupied.
“I will tell you as Afenifere, that I had to deal, though reluctantly,
with the former chief justice because there were millions of dollars,
euros, not to talk of naira, which were not declared,” he said.
“I wonder what sort of conscience some of us have, how can you sit and
preside and lock people up for years and even sentence some to death and
yet you are not doing what the constitution says you should do by
occupying that vital position.”
The president said his administration is determined to recover stolen
funds and properties within and outside the country.
He said all the recovered properties would be sold and the money put in
the nation’s treasury to make it impossible to return such properties to
the looters in future.
“So, we are recovering as much as we can under the system and this time
around I said the properties will be sold and the money put in the
treasury,” he said.
“The last time they were given back their properties but this time
around whoever comes after me no matter how generous he is, he cannot
take money from the treasury give it to individuals, it will be
impossible.
“But anybody who cannot account for what he has and for refusing to
declare, we will have to do something about it.”.
Olabiyi Durojaiye, a former senator, who spoke on behalf of Afenifere,
said the group was in the presidential villa to rejoice with the
president and the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on their re-election.
Durojaiye also commended Buhari for his recognition of June 12,
describing it as a landmark in the political history of Nigeria.
He said: “We are proud of our contributions to your victory through the
Yoruba Summit Conference held at the University of Ibadan International
Conference Centre on January 29,” he said.
“There, we passed a well-applauded motion urging all the people of
Western Nigeria origin of voting age to vote for your re-election by
virtue of your people-oriented and welfarist APC political programmes
and performance. We are happy the people complied.
“We are also here to commend Your Excellency for your recognition of
June 12 as a landmark in the political history of Nigeria and for naming
the National Stadium in Abuja after Chief MKO Abiola, the hero of
Nigeria’s pro-Democracy struggle.
“We are equally glad to note and commend Your Excellency for your
efforts to empower the 36 states in Nigeria to have control of the
police as a measure of improving security.’’
He said Afenifere was also delighted over the “giant stride” of the
Buhari administration in the field of agriculture, social intervention,
revival and modernisation of rail transportation, continuing efforts to
complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway among other achievements.
He, however, highlighted some major issues of paramount interest to the
people of south-west region in particular and the unity, progress and
happiness of the entire country in general.
The Yoruba socio-cultural group made requests bordering on security,
education, youth employment, power supply and agriculture.