UPDATED: CCT Orders Police, DSS To Arrest Onnoghen For Arraignment On Friday

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, has ordered
key security agencies in the country to arrest the suspended Chief
Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and produce him
for trial on Friday.

The Mr. Danladi Umar-led panel tribunal specifically directed
the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the
Department of State Service, DSS, to execute the arrest warrant to
ensure that Justice Onnoghen was brought before it on the adjourned
date.

The order followed an application the Federal Government made
for a bench warrant to be issued against the suspended CJN.

FG’s made the application after Justice Onnoghen’s failed to
appear before the tribunal to enter his plea to the six-count
charge pending against him.

Justice Onnoghen who was accused of failing to declare his
assets as prescribed by the law, as well as operated foreign bank
accounts in contravention of the code of conduct for public
officials, had on three previous dates, refused to appear before
the CCT for arraignment.

At the resumed proceeding, government lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Umar,
relied on section 6 (1) of the CCT Practice Direction and section
396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, to
apply for a bench warrant against the defendant.

“May I draw your attention and the honorable members to the fact
that the defendant is not in court today.

“I hereby humbly apply for a warrant of arrest against the
defendant”, Umar stated.

However, counsel to the embattled CJN, Chief Adegboyega Awolowo,
SAN, urged the tribunal to refuse the application and proceed with
hearing Onnoghen’s motion challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT
and legal competence of the charge against him.

Awomolo further relied on section 35 and 36 of the 1999
Constitution, as amended, to argue that the tribunal ought to
firstly determine the issue of its integrity and impartiality,
before proceeding with the trial.

Besides, he argued that the presence of the defendant was not
mandatory during hearing of an objection to the charge, adding that
the Mr. Danladi Umar led tribunal earlier adjourned to hear all the
pending.

“The defendant is entitled to fair trial and fair hearing and
the constitution has mandated that he must be afforded every
facility to establish his innocence.

“A criminal trial is a serious matter that affects the liberty
of a citizen.

“The application that the tribunal should issue a bench warrant
is persecuting by the prosecution. The tribunal is urged to
preserve the defendant’s rights”, Awomolo pleaded.