By Gideon Njoku
This order day was, for the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, a day of many firsts.
It was his first public outing since his controversial, some say humiliating, retirement from the high profile office of Nigeria’s Chief Justice. It was the first time he would publicly comment on his retirement.
It was the first time he would publicly thank those who stood by him during, and after the sad events that led to his retirement.
And, it was the first time any organisation would think of publicly honouring him, for his contributions to the Judiciary since his stormy retirement from office.
Onnoghen, whose confirmation as the CJN was unduly delayed, sparking outrage in, and from, some quarters, was controversially, docked, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, suspended from office, found guilty, forced to resign, sentenced, and finally retired.
It was the first time a CJN would go through such an ordeal.
Since his retirement on April 5, 2019, not much has been heard of him, or from him, except when it was reported in the press, that he was, allegedly, stopped at an international airport from travelling out of the country.
But on Friday, January 31, he roared like a lion, even though he said he was devoured by the lion.
According to Gavel International, Onnoghen spoke at the Annual Dinner of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Calabar Branch, Dinner, an event where he was not only the Chairman but was, also, honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He began by confirming that charity, indeed, begins from home. He said he was happy to be home where his legal practice started. Recalling the ordeal which saw him out of office, he thanked all those who solidly stood by him.
Then, the bombshell.
He explained to the expectant audience why he was retired. Resorting to folklore, Onnoghen told an interesting story to an audience which listened with, as they say, rapt attention. As he spoke, the silence in the hall, which was filled to the brim, was so infectious one could hear the drop of a pin. When he finished his story, everybody rose, and gave him a long, roaring, standing ovation.
Onnoghen: “It’s good to be home, and be part of the private Bar. This is where I started my practice as a private lawyer, and I feel good coming back
“I want to say thank you to the NBA and the Judicial officers who stood by me. I thank you for all that you have done, and I want to present myself. I am not dead. I am even good looking.
“I thank you all for your support during the course of the unfortunate incident. God is God. God remains God. The truth about life is in death. You can’t know anything about this life until you are dead because life isn’t eternal.
“A lion, the king of the jungle, one day was drinking water from the upstream when it noticed an antelope, downstream, that was also drinking water. The lion shouted at the antelope, and accused it of ruffling the water.
The antelope reminded the great lion that he (lion), was the one drinking from upstream, and therefore, the only one that can ruffle the waters.
“Not done, the lion went on and accused the antelope of abusing him, the king of the jungle, during the burial of its (antelope) grandmother sometime in the past. The antelope replied that he couldn’t have insulted the king of the jungle at the burial since he was not yet born then.
“The lion then roared back: I am going to eat you for lunch today, to which the antelope replied: That’s what you should have said in the first place”.
Using the folklore and the parable, without mentioning names, Onnoghen, maturely, told the story of his ordeal, which led to his premature retirement.
