11: 44 am Onnoghen: Code of Conduct
Tribunal adjourns to March 11 for hearing of all pending
applications
Part Four (concluded)
▶Defendant pleads not guilty to all 6 Counts as contained in the
Charge
▶Defence applies for bail of Defendant on self-recognisance
especially in light of discharge of bench warrant
▶Defence Lead Counsel, Chris Uche indicates that he will be voting
at his Constituency outside Abuja, and seeks an adjournment till
after the elections to enable him travel for purposes of voting.
States that the business of the next date would be hearing of
pending applications.
▶Tribunal grants Defendant bail on self recognisance and adjourns
to 11 March 2019 for Hearing of pending Applications.
▶There was a lot of drama before the 11 March 2019 date was given.
Both counsel had discussed and agreed on either 11 or 18th March
2019, but the Tribunal Chair insisted on hearing the matter next
week. It took a lot of plea from both counsel before the Charge was
adjourned to 11 March 2019. The important thing is, case is
adjourned to 11 March.
11: 23: am CCT withdraws arrest warrant against Onnoghen
as he pleads not guilty
The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
has pleaded not guilty to the six counts of non-declaration of
assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
He was immediately granted bail on self-recognisance by the
tribunal following a short oral application by the defence counsel,
Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
After the bail was granted, Uche also applied to the tribunal to
adjourn to a date after the general elections.
The request was granted but a date has yet to be picked as of
the time of filing this report.
Before the charges were read to him, the suspended CJN’s lead
counsel, Uche, applied to the tribunal to withdraw the arrest
warrant issued by the CCT against the defendant earlier on
Wednesday.
Ruling on the application, the tribunal chairman, agreed with
the defence lawyer.
The CCT chairman ordered the withdrawal of the arrest warrant
due to Onnoghen’s voluntary submission to the tribunal on
Friday.
But he added that the order of arrest was withdrawn on the
condition that the suspended CJN would continue to be present in
court throughout the period of his trial.
10: 50 am : ONOGHEN—Onnoghen enters the
dock
*Rejects chair given him to sit
*Preferred to stand in the dock
The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
on Friday, entered the dock to answer to the charges of
non-declaration of charges instituted against him.
His lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), announced the presence of
Onnoghen shortly after the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar led two
other members to the courtroom at about 10.34am.
Onnoghen entered the dock at about 10.37am after Uche told the
tribunal of his presence.
He was offered a seat following an instruction by the tribunal
chairman but he chose to remain standing.
He remained standing with a smiling face while the prosecution
and defence legal teams announced their appearance.
Onnoghen wore transparent glasses with black frame.
Friday was the first time he made a public appearance since
January 25 when President Muhammadu Buhari suspended him.
He voluntarily arrived the Code of Conduct Tribunal at about
9.40am on Friday following Wednesday’s order by the tribunal
chairman, Danladi Umar, for his arrest.
Onnoghen who arrived in his official vehicle with tinted glass
and covered number plate did not step out of the car until about
10.19am.
He entered the courtroom and was seated with two of his lawyers
on either side of him.
He was decked in a suit with an inner shirt and a yellow
tie.
The three members of the tribunal arrived to begin sitting at
about 10.34 am.
Part Three
CCT commences sitting
▶Defence had applied even before announcing appearances that the
Defendant be allowed to take his plea from outside the Dock. The
Chairman will have none of that and refused the application.
▶Defence reminds Tribunal that it has pending application but that
it was the Tribunal’s view that the Defendant must appear and
consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued. Applies that the
bench warrant in respect of the Defendant be discharged the
Defendant having appeared voluntarily and before the actual
execution of same.
▶Tribunal writing a Ruling on application to discharge Bench
Warrant
▶Tribunal grants application and sets aside the Bench Warrant on
the condition that the Defendant must henceforth make himself
available for further proceedings.
▶Charge now being read to the Defendant
▶Tribunal Chair stops Clerk from reading Charge after he had read
only 1 of the Counts. Asks Defence whether it would prefer that
applications be taken first. Defence says that as Defendant is
already present the Defendant’s plea should be taken first.
Part Two
CCT commences sitting
Onnoghen discussing with his
lawyers inside the tribunal while waiting for the proceedings to
begin. He is scheduled for arraignment today. Pic: Clement O.
Oloyede. 15th feb, 2018
▶Picture taking only ended when one of the young lawyers shouted
“It is okay”. The press people have now been cleared out and we are
all just waiting for the Tribunal to start sitting.
▶Tribunal now sitting
▶Tribunal apologises for keeping us waiting for ” a little
while”
▶Defendant present
▶Musa Ibrahim, Principal State Counsel & 6 Others for
Prosecution
▶Chief Chris Uche & 7 other Senior Advocates appear for Defendant.
Now taking appearance of the non-Senior Advocates for the
Defendant.
FRN V. CJN ONOGHEN
Updates for 15 February 2019
Part one
▶Tribunal about to start sitting
▶All the Senior Advocates present have stepped out of the Court
Room ostensibly to lead the Defendant into the Court Room
▶Registrars have taken their place
▶Justice Onnoghen is in the Court Room
Read more live-update-frn-v-cjn-onoghen-onnoghen-enters-the-dock/