Onnoghen trial at CCT resumes Feb 4

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) announced on Thursday that the trial of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen on six count charge for non- assets declaration will resume on Monday February 4, 2019 at the tribunal sitting in Abuja. The tribunal had on January 28, adjourned Onnoghen’s trial ( sina die ) indefinitely pending the hearing and determination of an appeal he filed that sought to stay the tribunal proceedings . Court of Appeal on Wednesday 30 January refused to stay the tribunal proceedings on the ground that the suspended CJN Onnoghen is facing a quasi criminal trial which cannot be stayed in view of the provision of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. The Code of Conduct stated in statement yesterday that: “Following Court of Appeal ruling yesterday on the trial against Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter, on alleged non-declaration of asset before Code of Conduct Tribunal is hereby fixed for Monday, 4th of February, 2019. “The decision was reached today sequel to a correspondent from Code of Conduct Bureau”, which had applied “for the resumption of trial of the case captioned; FRN V. Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel case No: CCT/ABJ/01/19, addressed to Hon. Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal, dated 30th January, 2019, jointly signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq).” The request reads in part: “The above subject refers. This case came up for hearing of preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal on the 28th of January, 2019 but the Tribunal could not proceed due to the pendency of the case at the Court of Appeal,” the statement added. It added that the latest request by the bureau is therefore in response to the recent ruling by the court of appeal which heard the motion filed by Justice Onnoghen and refused to grant his request for a stay of proceedings. Onnoghen had failed to appear at the last two sittings of the tribunal had a pending application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal. The tribunal is likely to hear Onnoghen application challenging jurisdiction on February 4, and determine it since the Federal government application seeking an order directing the president to suspend him has been taken by event. It is also likely that Onnoghen may apply to the tribunal to set aside its own ex-parte order that has facilitated his suspension from office.