CJN, Onaiyekan, Anyaoku, dons charge Nigerians, govt on graft

Eminent Nigerians, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed; former Secretary of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Professors Umaru Shehu and Ben Nwabueze; have for the umpteenth time hammered on the deleterious effects of corruption on Nigeria’s development.

According to Mohammed, who spoke at an induction course for newly appointed judges at the National Judicial institute in Abuja, the arbiters must all time shun corruption and render justice without fear or favour.

Represented by Justice Walter Onnoghen, the CJN said impartiality is a fundamental quality of a judge for there to be respect for the judiciary.”

To Onaiyekan who was reacting to the trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, government must ensure fairness and transparency in its anti-corruption war so as not to give the impression of witch-hunting.

But Anyaoku and other dons, including Professors Umaru Shehu and Ben Nwabueze, however, urged return to the old good days of hardwork, honesty and integrity.

They spoke when former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar; Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari; Professor Itsejuwa Sagay; Professor Njidda Gadzama; Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Mrs. Olutoyin Olakunrin were bestowed with Lifetime Achievement award at the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation’s (HLF) 20th anniversary and the 2016 Role Model awards in Lagos.

Shehu, who is chairman, Board of Trustees of HLF, noted that the foundation had done quite a lot to reorient Nigerians against materialism and nepotism by giving the younger generations role models to emulate.