The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has fixed February 4 for the resumption of alleged non-asset declaration trial against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the tribunal.
Zebra News had reported that the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, January 30, dismissed the motion filed by Justice Onnoghen, seeking stay of proceedings of his trial at the CCT.
According to the court, the charges filed against the suspended CJN were criminal in nature and the proceedings before the CCT cannot be stopped.
Also recall that the National Judicial Council (NJC) gave the suspended CJN, and the acing CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, seven days to respond to petitions written against them.
The body of Nigerian judges gave the ultimatum during an emergency meeting in response to the suspension of Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari had on Friday, January 25, suspended Onnoghen based on allegation that he violated the code of conduct for public officers by not declaring his assets as required by law.
Below is the full statement.
“Press Statement
Conduct Tribunal Fixes 4th February for resumption of alleged Non-asset declaration trial against Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Following Court of Appeal ruling yesterday on the trial against Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter, on alleged non-declaration of assets 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, applying for the resumption of trial of the case captioned; Application for resumption of trial of the case of 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 Junuary, 2019 but the Tribunal could not proceed due to the pendency of the case at the Court of Appeal.
“However, in the wake of this afternoon, 30th Junuary, 2019 the Court of Appeal has thrown out the appeal. “Consequently on the above, we urge the Honourable Tribunal to give us a date for resumption of the trial subject to the convenience of the Tribunal, Most obliged my Lord.
Ibraheem Al-Hassan,
Heads, (Press & Public Relations),
Code of Conduct Tribunal Headquarters,
Abuja.
January 31st, 2019.”
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