Onnoghen’s sudden illness, absence stalls trial at CCT
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
Embattled suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has taken ill with a rise in high blood pressure that he was unable to attend his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday and stalled his trial.
Justice Onnoghen is facing a six count charge for failure to declare part of his assets – a bank account containing £3m at the Standard Chartered Bank. He was at the tribunal on Monday but conspicuously absence on Tuesday at about noon when the matter resumed.
His lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), informed the tribunal that Onnoghen’s absence was occasioned by a tooth-ache and high blood pressure which his doctor stated in a medical report tendered at the tribunal as “around 210/121.”
The senior counsel tendered a medical report from Ideal Medical Services, Abuja where the defendant was said to have been treated.
The medical report signed by the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Francis Uche, recommended among others that Walter Onnoghen be placed on 72 hours bed rest and observation on the high blood pressure to be properly monitored.
Reacting to the development, the Federal government prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN), acknowledged he was served with a letter and copy of the medical report. He said that the health of Justice Onnoghen is important and he need to be well to stand the trial.
He said although, he had his witnesses in court to open his case, the health of the defendant is paramount.
Therefore, he applied that the trial be adjourned till March 18 to enable Onnoghen have sufficient bed rest as recommended by his doctor.
In a short ruling, the tribunal chairman, Hon. Danladi Umar agreed with the position of the prosecution and the medical report and adjourned the trial till Monday, 18 March 2019.
It should be recalled that the tribunal had admitted Justice Onnoghen to bail on self recognizance after he pleaded not guilty to the six count charges.
On Monday, the tribunal heard two separate applications brought by the defendant challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him as a judicial Officer without, first being tried by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Tribunal, however, reserved the rulings till at the end of trial in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and had fixed yesterday for the prosecution to open his case.
