Justice Danladi of CCT, President
Justice Danladi of CCT, President Buhari and Justice Onnoghen
CCT Grants Justice Onnoghen Bail on
Self-Recognition
The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter
Onnoghen has pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge the Federal
Government leveled against him and was subsequently granted bail on
self-recognition.
Justice Onnoghen, who mounted the dock at exactly 10:15am,
equally persuaded the Mr. Danladi Umar led tribunal, to vacate the
arrest warrant that was issued against him on Wednesday.
However, there was a mild drama at the tribunal when Justice
Onnoghen politely rejected an offer of a seat in the dock made to
him by CCT Boss.
Danladi Umar had expressed a surprise to find Onnoghen still
standing minutes after he first asked tribunal officials to give
him a seat in the dock.
Seeing Onnoghen still standing, Umar wondered if his instruction
that the CJN be offered a seat had not been complied with.
Realising there was a seat in the dock, Umar faced Onnoghen’s
direction smiling and said “My Lord, sit down!”
After seeing that Onnoghen was not interested in the offer, Umar
raised his voice as he repeated the offer.
But Onnoghen said, “I will use the seat when I need it.”
The government had in the charge marked CCT/01/2019, alleged
that Onnoghen who was suspended from office on January 25 by
President Muhammadu Buhari, failed to declare his assets as
prescribed by the law.
He was accused of operating foreign bank accounts since 2011,
contrary to section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal
Act. Onnoghen had on four previous dates, declined to appear before
the tribunal which he contended lacked the requisite jurisdiction
to entertain the charge against him.
Consequently, the tribunal, ordered key security agencies in the
country to arrest Onnoghen and produce him for trial. The tribunal
specifically directed the Inspector General of Police and the
Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, to
execute the arrest warrant.
However, the order was not carried out as the suspended CJN,
voluntarily appeared before the tribunal to enter his plea to the
charge. Shortly after his arraignment, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Chief
Chris Uche, SAN, applied for his client to be granted bail on
self-recognizance.
The application was accordingly granted by the CCT Chairman. The
pending motions would be heard on March 11, 2019.
Immediately after the arraignment, the counsel to Onnoghen,
Chris Uche (SAN) and the Counsel to Federal Government Musa Ibrahim
spoke with journalists
Chris Uche said “Today February 15, 2019 is a sad day for
Nigeria’s democracy, it is a sad day for Nigeria’s judiciary and it
is a sad day for the rule of law.
“Today, Onnoghen has been made to suffer indignity to take the
plea in the way it was done in the charges against him. For us as
concern lawyers, our struggle is for the maintenance of the rule of
law, separation of power and obedient to the due process.
“The world would still know the truth that there is more to this
trial of Justice Onnoghen before this Tribunal.
Also speaking, Barrister Musa Ibrahim from Federal Ministry of
Justice said that “It is sad day for the legal profession because
the entire legal profession is on trial but the law is a law and
must take its course.”
By PRNigeria