Supreme Court strikes out C’River govt suit challenging Onnoghen’s suspension

The supreme court has struck out a suit filed by the Cross River state government challenging the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The decision was reached in a split decision of six to one of a seven man panel of the apex court.

The majority judgment held that the Cross River state government lacked the locus standi to institute the case on behalf of Onnoghen.

Justice Olukayode arrivals who prepared the lead majority judgement struck out the case on the ground that the supreme court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

In the dissenting judgement, Justice Mary Odili held that the Cross River state government possessed the locus standi to institute the case.

She also held that the supreme court was an appropriate forum to file the suit.