FG arraigns suspended CJN Onnoghen

…Granted bail on self recognition

…plead not guilty to charges

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

Finally, the Executive Arm of the Government, on Friday further humbled the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen as they arraigned him on six count charge before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for an alleged non- declaration of assets.
Onnoghen who stood in the dock throughout the session pleaded not guilty to each of the counts read to him by the tribunal clerk.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Hon. Danladi Umar ruling on oral application made by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), admitted CJN Onnoghen to bail on self recognition.
Earlier, Umar had set aside the warrant of arrest directing the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Department of State Security Service DSS to arrest and produce Onnoghen before the tribunal yesterday.
Umar said that the order of arrest was set aside with the condition that Onnoghen will henceforth attend his trial.
Justice Onnoghen arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal at about 9.40am on his own to face his trial in his official two jeep with the number plates covered .
He sat in the car until about 9.55am before he walked into the Court room. But the tribunal begin sitting at 10.35am.
Chief Chris Uche (SAN), leading Chief James Onoja SAN, Paul Erokoro SAN, Lawal Adeyanju Rabana SAN, F.U.K Igwe SAN, Chukwuma – Machukwu Ume SAN, Okon Nkanu SAN, Gordy Uche SAN and 59 other lawyers had informed the tribunal that the Defendant (Onnoghen) was in court.
But before the lawyers announce their appearances, Danladi ordered Onnoghen to be put in the dock . The charge against Onnoghen marked No. CCT/ ABJ/ 1/ 19 reads;
*That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer serving as Judicial Officer in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Justice of the Supreme Court failed to declare and submit a written declaration of your assets and liabilities within the prescribed period of three months after being sworn in as the justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 8th day of June 2005 and you thereby contravened the provision of section 15(1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act.
*That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14yh December, 2016 refused to declare a domiciliary (US Dollar) account No 870001062650 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig) Ltd Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravenes the provisions of section 15(2) read along with section 15(1) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act.
*That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December, 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Assets declaration form CCB 1(aftwr you were sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a domiciliary (Euro) No 93001062686 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig) Ltd Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravenes the provisions of section 15(2) read along with section 15(1) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act. *That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December, 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Assets declaration form CCB 1(aftwr you were sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a domiciliary (Pound sterling ) No 285001062679 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig) Ltd Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravenes the provisions of section 15(2) read along with section 15(1) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act. *That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December, 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Assets declaration form CCB 1(aftwr you were sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare an e-Saver savings (Naira) account No 5001062693 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig) Ltd Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravenes the provisions of section 15(2) read along with section 15(1) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act.
*That you Justice Walter Onnoghen CJN, GCON being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December, 2016 falsely failed to declare declared your assets in your Assets declaration form CCB 1(after you were sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a Naira account No 010001062667 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig) Ltd Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravenes the provisions of section 15(2) read along with section 15(1) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act Cap C 15 LFN 2004 punishable under section 23(2) a, b and c of the same act.