Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu has described ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen Conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as a victory for President Muhamadu Buhari’s Anti-corruption fight.
Shehu disclosed this in a statement while reacting to the conviction of the suspended chief justice in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, Onnoghen’s conviction by the CCT was a major victory for the anti-corruption policy of the Buhari administration.
“The rule of law will lose its meaning and validity if only the weak, the poor and powerless are punished for their violations of the law,” he said.
”Countries succeed because the rule of law is evenly upheld and enforced. The war against corruption would go nowhere if the high and mighty are spared because of their influence and connections.
”You can’t fight corruption by allowing impunity because the rule of law cannot function where impunity is tolerated.”
Shehu explained that the outcome of the trial demonstrated clearly that ”the law is no respecter of persons, titles, social or political connections”.
He added that the essence of the rule of law is to hold everyone accountable before the law, regardless of their status in the society.
He pointed out that the conviction would send a clear message and a huge step in holding public officials accountable.