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.
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.
By PRNigeria