The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, has urged Nigerians to cooperate with the judiciary in order to bring the country out if its present economic woes.

Onnoghen said this at the Calabar International Convention Centre in Calabar during a reception and state banquet organised in his honour by the Cross River State Government.

Onnoghen appealed to Nigerians to shun acts that could threaten the unity of the country.

He said, “I urge every Nigerian home and abroad to try and live within the confines of the law of the land and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If we are able to do just that, we will be sure of ensuring that peace and unity reign in the country.

“If we do that we would have succeeded in helping the judiciary to do better justice when the need arises. This is because when we live by the law and not just impunity that is the only way forward.

“The time has come when all acts of lawlessness will no longer be tolerated by the law as it is bigger than every man and not a respecter of anyone in the country. It is no longer fashionable for people to do things contrary to the law of the land and get away with it simply because they know how to buy their ways.”

He disclosed that he had initially planned to be a lawyer and not a judge.

“I wanted to become a lawyer at all costs, but never wanted to be a judge. The decision was taken or made for me. I thank God for my humility after realising that there was no other way for me except to do that which I ought to do. I have no regret at all,” he said.