Assets declaration: CCT adjourns Onnoghen’s trial indefinitely

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Monday adjourned indefinitely, the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen over an allegation of non-declaration of his assets, slammed against him by the Federal Government.

The indefinite adjournment by the Tribunal followed an application in that direction by the prosecution counsel, Musa Ibrahim.

“Ordinarily, the matter was adjourned till today for hearing of the preliminary objection of the defence, but in view of the order of the Court of Appeal for stay of proceedings, we are asking for an adjournment, pending the hearing and determination of the matter before the Court of Appeal,” Ibrahim told the Tribunal.

Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), who represented Onnoghen at Monday’s proceedings did not object to the application for adjournment but demanded a record of proceedings in the matter.

Consequently, the Tribunal, headed by Danladi Umar Yakubu adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely), pending the judgment of the appellate court.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division had, last week ordered CCT to stay further proceedings in Onnoghen’s trial pending its ruling on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

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The three-member panel of the appellate court gave the order after taken submissions from counsel in the application filed by the CJN seeking a stay of proceedings of the trial at the Tribunal.

Onnoghen had in the application filed on his behalf by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), asked the Appeal Court to restrain the CCT from going ahead with the trial slated for January 22, 2019.

He also asked the court to stop the suit requesting him to step down as the CJN.

The Federal Government had slammed a 6-count charge on the CJN bordering on failure to declare his assets.

Recall that, in a split judgment of two to one, the Tribunal refused to obey the orders of courts stopping the trial at the Tribunal, saying they were null and void, since the CCT is a unique creation of the constitution and as such cannot be subjected to the orders of the high court and industrial court being courts of equal jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has joined several other legal practitioners in condemning the unconstitutional act by the President.

FIDA, in a statement by its Communications Officer, Akubeze Okocha noted that the action of the President signals a total disrespect for the rule of law and in turn the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.

“This is not only distressing, it is absolutely objectionable,” adding that the due process for the removal of the CJN is by recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

FIDA then called for the immediate withdrawal of the suspension of Justice Onnoghen in order to avoid further crippling the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary.