* CCT Chair insists on Onnoghen’s appearance
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar
has directed the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice
Walter Onnoghen to appear before the tribunal in person before any
further businesses could be conducted in the case pending against
him.
Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal
(CCT), accused the Adeboyega Awomolo, SAN, counsel to Walter
Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), of applying
delay tactics to stall proceedings.
Umar made the accusation at the resumption of hearing on the
case against Onnoghen on Monday.
Umar gave the directive at the resumption of proceedings in the
case on Monday, shortly before agreeing to the request by parties
for adjournment to February 13.
He said: “Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
(ACJA), a defendant, who is served with a charge and represented by
lawyers, must take his plea before raising any objection.
“The defendant has continued to stay away from this tribunal. I
am going to grant this adjournment at the instance of the
prosecution and defence, but must state that the defendant must
attend court at the next adjourned date so that all the issues
would be resolved in his presence.[1]”
Awomolo had applied for an adjournment till Thursday because of
a petition submitted to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against
his client.
The lawyer said the NJC would meet on Wednesday on the petition,
the tribunal should adjourn so that it “it does not result in
double jeopardy.”
Aliyu Umar, counsel to the federal government, agreed to the
adjournment but the CCT chairman said since the matter has been
slated for hearing both lawyers “must” move their applications
already pending before the court.
“That [petition against Onnoghen at NJC] has nothing to do with
the tribunal,” the CCT chairman said.
“Why are you using delay tactics?”
At the point, Awomolo was visibly angry. He said in his over 40
years at the bar, he has never done such.
The FG counsel intervened and asked that the tribunal is stood
down for 30 minutes.
11: 21 am: CCT ADJOURNS TILL FEB.
13TH
The CCT has adjourned to 13th February 2019 for hearing
of application, insisting Justice Walter Onnoghen must be present
to take his plea before any preliminary objection to the competence
or jurisdiction of the trial can be raised.
11: 17 am: After tensed arguments and emotions
between Defence Counsel Adegboyega Awomolo and CCT Chair Danladi
Umar on whether to take applications or not, CCT adjourns to Feb.
14. Both parties later apologised after a 30mins break.
11; 15 am; Prosecutor Umar says “But if on
Thursday Onnoghen does not come to court, I will ask for the
appropriate orders against him.” Eg Bench Warrant of Arrest on
Onnoghen.
11: 13 am; Awomolo says no harm would be
done to all parties if case is adjourned until the outcome of the
NJC. Prosecution Counsel Aliyu Umar agrees to the application.
11:09 am; Defence Counsel Adegboyega Awomolo
says the same petition against CJN Walter Onnoghen sent to Code of
Conduct Tribunal has now been forwarded to NJC for investigation by
the AGF. He is asking for an adjournment pending the 09 the out
come.
11: 00am The trial of Nigeria’s suspended Chief
Justice, Walter Onnoghen has resumed at a special court for trying
assets declaration cases in Abuja.
TheNigerialawyer reports that the Onnoghen is once more
absent.
Read more live-update-cct-adjourns-onnoghens-trial-till-feb-13th/