Open Bar Initiative Fires Back at National Advocate for Equity and Justice; Describes it as Hired Rights Group
The Convener of Open Bar Initiative, Silas Joseph Onu has fired back at National Advocates For Equity and Justice for saying that Open Bar Initiative (OBI) petition against the 17 nominees recommended for appointment of FCT High Court Judges by NJC is baseless and unmeritorious.
S. J. One, in his response, which he made on his Twitter handle on Sunday morning, described the group as “HIRED RIGHTS GROUP.”
Reacting further in his statement made available to TheNigerialawyer(TNL), SJ queried why these groups are not condemning the whole Petition but only choose to act on specific names who are ethnically aligned with them.
He said: “A rights group that speaks for a selected individual who seems to be ethnically aligned with them and said nothing about the other unqualified individuals but still concluded by condemning the entire Petition is certainly a hired group aimed at advancing tribal interests.
“I am from Ebonyi State and coincidentally, no one from my State is presently serving as a judge in the FCT High Court and no one was recommended in this list. If anyone was recommended on the basis of his/her father’s connection, even if he or she is from my family, I will still petition against such a person.
“I am a nonconformist and cannot make a good judge. I have never had any interest in being a Judge and still do not want to be one, even if given a seat in the Supreme Court. So, this response is lame and purely ethnic agenda that has no place in the quest to fix our Judiciary.
“When you see a HIRED RIGHTS GROUP, it is easy to identify them. Lie No.1 – I have never, not even jokingly, had any interest in becoming a judge or SAN. Those who know me will attest. This letter is nothing but the usual Nigeria tribal/ethnic defence of unjust acts.
“I would have ignored their paid rejoinder, but if a lie is left unchallenged, it may actually be taken as the truth. If they had a scintilla of facts to defend their client, they won’t have to begin by concocting lies about me. I repeat, I am not, never was, interested in being a judge,” he added.
