Revealed: CCT’s Order
Revealed: CCT’s Order Used by Buhari to suspend CJN
Onnoghen
The Code of Conduct Tribunal has granted an Interim Order in favour
of the Federal Government and subsequently used by President
Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen as the
Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chairman of the National Judicial
Council (NJC).
PRNigeria reliably gathered that the Tribunal was allegedly put
under pressure to entertain a Motion Exparte brought before it by
the Government against Onnoghen a day before the Court of Appeal
issued an order barring the Tribunal from taking further action on
the Asset Declaration Charges brought against the now suspended
CJN
A Copy of the Motion Exparte obtained by PRNigeria exclusively
was dated January 23, 2019 but was slated for hearing next Monday
before the dramatic turn of event by the Federal Government against
Justice Onnoghen.
The Motion Exparte read in parts: “An Interim Order of the
Honourable Tribunal directing the Defendant/Respondent to step
aside as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chairman of the
National Judicial Council over an allegation of the Contravening
the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act CAP
C15 Laws of the Federation 2004 pending the determination of the
Motion on Notice dated 10th Day of January 2019.
“An Interim Order of the Honourable Tribunal directing the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take all necessary
measure to swear the most Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of
Nigeria as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National
Judicial Council in order to prevent a vacuum in the judicial arm
of government pending the determination of the motion on
Notice.
“And for such further order(s) as this Honourable Tribunal may
deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”
The ruling of the Tribunal also read in part: “It is hereby
ordered as follows: That the defendant/respondent shall step aside
as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial
Council over allegation of Contravening the provisions of the code
of Conducts and Tribunal Act CAP C15 Laws of the Federation 2004
pending the determination of the Motion on notice dated 10th
January 2019.
“That the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall
take all necessary measure to swear in the most senior Justice of
the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and
Chairman National Judicial Council in order to prevent a vacuum in
the judicial arm of government pending the determination of the
motion on notice.
“This matter is hereby adjourned to the 28 Day of January 2019
for Hearing.
“Issued at Abuja under the Hand and Seal of the Honorable
Chairman and Member of this Honourable Tribunal this 23th Day of
January 2019 By Hon Danladi Y. Umar, Hon. Chairman, and Mrs. Julie
A. Anabor Hon Member II”
By PRNigeria