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In the midst of growing criticism, the Nigerian Information Minister denied on Monday that the president's recent suspension of the chief justice by the president was linked to the upcoming presidential elections.
The suspension of Chief Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen has "nothing to do with the upcoming elections" and does not mean "the beginning of dictatorship or tyranny as some have hinted," said Minister Lai Mohammed.
The Chief Justice is being sued for allegedly failing to declare his badets, which, according to Onnoghen, is unfounded. This is the first time that a chief justice is tried in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, with 190 million inhabitants.
Critics say the chief justice's suspension just three weeks before the elections is an effort by President Muhammadu Buhari to weaken the Nigerian judicial system and pave the way for his second term in the February 16 vote.
The Chief Justice plays a key role in any court challenge of a vote that could be challenged.
The Nigerian Bar has called the suspension a "coup attempt against the Nigerian judiciary" this weekend and the president's rival has called the suspension "act of dictatorship" intended to influence the government. 39; election.
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The United States, Britain and the European Union said Saturday that Buhari was acting "without the support of the legislature". The United States warned that the suspension could "throw a veil over the vote" of February 16, in which Buhari seeks a second term.
Buhari said the suspension of the Chief Justice would continue until the end of the case and appointed an interim chief justice, Ibrahim Muhammed Tanko. Muhammed is from northern Nigeria, with a Muslim majority, like Buhari, while Onnoghen is a predominantly Christian south.
The information minister described the tumult as "absurd theater", accusing the opposition of "blurring the tracks" and acting in "hysteria".
Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said on Monday that the president had violated no laws and "did nothing wrong".
While tensions were ahead of the vote, observers warned of election-related violence.
Nigeria, rich in oil, faces multiple security challenges, including the Boko Haram's ten-year-old extremist insurgency, and the 2015 Buhari election has been a rare peaceful transfer of power. Diplomats urged the best candidates to sign a peace pledge.
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