UPDATED: CCT versus CJN: FHC Restrains CCT From Trying CJN

The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Federal
Government’s plan to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice
Walter Onnoghen, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Federal Government through the Code of Conduct Bureau filed
six counts of non-declaration of assets against the CJN on
Friday.

He was due for arraignment before the CCT on Monday but he was
absent from court.

But ruling on two separate ex parte applications on Monday,
Justice N.E Maha, ordered parties to maintain status quo till
January 17.

He ruled in the two different suits that the defendants should
be served with all the papers filed and they should appear in court
at the next hearing.

One of the two suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2019 was filed by
incorporated ‎trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace
Initiative.

Those joined as defendants in the suit, the Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the
Chairman of CCT, Danladi Umar; the National Judicial Council, the
Inspector-General of Police, ‎Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

‎The other suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2019 was filed by the
incorporated ‎trustees of the International Association of Students
Economists and Management.

The suit has as the defendants, Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami; the CCT, the CCB, the
Chairman of CCT, Umar; and the Inspector-General of Police,
‎Idris.

While the ex parte application in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2019
was moved by Mr. R.A Lawal-Rabana (SAN), before Justice Maha on
Monday, the ex parte application filed in the suit marked
FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2019 ‎was moved by Mr. Jeph Njikonye.

The applications were being filed before the Federal High Court
in Abuja while the CCT proceedings where Onnoghen was being
expected to be arraigned was ongoing.

‎Justice Onnoghen was however absent at the CCT proceedings
forcing the tribunal to adjourn till January 22.

But Justice Maha ruled at the Federal High Court on Monday that
no steps should be taken in respect of the trial until January 17
when all parties to the two suits should return to court for the
hearing of the plaintiffs’ motion on notice.

‎The hearing took place shortly after the CCT proceedings ended
on Monday.