The Supreme Court on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Cross River State Government to challenge the suspension of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
In a split decision of six-to-one of a seven-man panel of the apex court, Justice Olulayode Ariwoola, who prepared the lead majority judgment, held that the Cross River State Government lacked the locus standi to institute the suit on behalf of Onnoghen, PUNCH reports.
The five-man panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour also held that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate forum to ventilate the whatever grievances the plaintiff might have in connection with the case.
Justice Ariwoola, therefore, struck out the case by upholding the Attorney-General of the Federation’s preliminary objection filed to challenge the competence of the suit.
He, therefore, struck out the case without considering its merit on the grounds that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.