CJN FAILS TO APPEAR BEFORE CCT, CASE RESCHEDULED TO JAN. 23

The much anticipated arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday did not hold because the absence of the CJN.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has therefore rescheduled his arraignment to January 23, 2019.

The rescheduling of Justice Onnoghen’s arraignment followed argument by the defence counsel that the CJN was not properly served.

The Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar, conceded that Justice Onnoghen, was not personally served with the charges and the court’s summons to appear before the Tribunal in Abuja on Monday as required by the law.

Mr. Umar requested the three-man tribunal led by Mr. Danladi Umar to direct a fresh service on the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Justice Walter Onnoghen was absent from Monday’s proceedings scheduled for his arraignment before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges of non-declaration of his assets.

The tribunal chairman upon inquiry about Justice Onnoghen’s absence from court, discovered from the defence team, led by Chief WoleOlanipekun,that the Chief Justice needed not to be present having filed a motion to challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

45 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and 55 senior lawyers represented the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the tribunal.

Chief Olanipekun said he and other defence lawyers only appeared in court in protest against the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

He also said from the account given by the court official earlier in the proceedings, the Chief Justice of Nigeria was not served with the charges and summons personally, but through his aide.

Chief Olanipekun insisted that the law required that the defendant be personally served.

But the prosecuting lawyer said the law only required the defendant to be aware of the pending charges, and that it was Justice Onnoghen’s choice to ask his aide to receive the charges and summons on his behalf.

After series of arguments, which lasted for about 45 minutes, the prosecuting counsel conceded that the service of the charges and the summons ought to have been personally served on Justice Onnoghen.

The Code of Conduct Bureau filed criminal charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Justice Onnoghen is facing a six count- charge bordering on failure to declare his assets and operating a domiciliary account, among other charges.

According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ibrahim Alhassan, the chargeis based on a petition signed by the Executive Secretary of the anti-corruption research data-based initiative,

Mr. Dennis Aghanya.