THE Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Monday, held that the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen must appear before it on February 13, 2019 to take his plea in the six-count charge filed against him by the federal government.
The chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar ruled that the Onnoghen must appear before the tribunal on the next adjourned date to take his plea before any application from him could be entertained.
Earlier, the tribunal refused an attempt by both the prosecution and defence teams to adjourn the case, pending the determination of the matter before the National Judicial Counsel (NJC).
When the case was called for hearing, Chief Adegboyegba Awomolo (SAN), who represented the suspended CJN told the tribunal that the same petition over which Onnoghen is standing trial at the CCT was before the NJC and should be stepped down until when the NJC would have finished with the matter.
The prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN), also agreed with the submission of the defence team and raised no objection to the application for adjournment.
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However, chairman of the tribunal, Umar, disagreed and insisted that the matter must go on. This led to a strong exchange of words and the matter was stood down for 30 minutes for the tribunal to rule on the application.
At resumption, a member of the panel, Atedze Agwaza apologised on behalf of the tribunal for the earlier refusal to grant the adjournment, adding that, “I apologise over what has happened and on behalf of the chairman, I promise it will never repeat itself again. You know the pressure this matter is generating, you know we are still in the learning process,” Agwaza said.
Umar, on his part also apologised for the misunderstanding and adjourned the matter at the instance of both parties to February 13, 2019.
He said: “The presence of the defendant is needed at the tribunal. Plea must be taken before raising any objection to challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter. I will like to see the defendant on the next adjourned date”.
Justice Onnoghen was arraigned on January 14 on a six-count charge of non-declaration of all his assets.
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who led over 45 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to defend Onnoghen, had faulted the competence of his trial before the CCT on the premise that the Federal Government failed to allow the NJC to investigate the allegations against him before it proceeded to prefer criminal charge against him.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has adjourned till February 12, hearing in the three different appeals filed by the suspended CJN.
When the matter came up Monday, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who led three other Senior lawyers for Onnoghen, informed the appellate court of the decision by both the appellant and the respondent to have the three appeals heard together, so as to save the time of the court.
Uche told the 3-man panel justices of the appellate court that he had already written a letter to the presiding Justice, Abdul Aboki, dated January 30, praying the court to determine the three appeals together and that the Federal government as a respondent agreed to the position.
Counsel to the Federal government, Oyin Koleoso, confirmed that the two parties have agreed that the three appeals be heard together.
Justice Stephen Adah, subsequently adjourned the hearing in the matter till February 12, in view of the urgency of the matter.
President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended Onnoghen and appointed Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as acting CJN, based on an ex-parte order, obtained by the federal government from the CCT.
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