Five out of six governors of Nigeria’s South-South have come in defence of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The governors at an emergency meeting in Abuja on Sunday said the move to prosecute the top jurist for alleged asset declaration infractions was vindictive and persecutory, and should be condemned by lovers of democracy.

The governors consequently prevailed on Mr Onnoghen not to appear when the trial opens at the tribunal on Monday morning.

The governors at the meeting were Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, who chaired it at his guest house in Maitama, Abuja, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.

The meeting began at about 4:00 p.m. and ended with a communique shortly after 7:30 p.m. The governors declined to take questions from reporters despite earlier promise in the announcement that there would be a press briefing after the closed-door meeting.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was not present, but his spokesperson said his absence was due to flight delays and he had sent a message that the outcome of the meeting would be binding on him.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was absent and did not disclose a representation. He is the only governor of ruling All Progressives Congress from the six-state South-South, the remaining five belong to Peoples Democratic Party.

The governors are the latest to express outrage about the scheduled trial of the Cross River-born Onnoghen, following a petition filed to the Code of Conduct Bureau by a civic group led by a man with previous ties to President Muhammadu Buhari.

PT