Admin l Monday, Jan. 14, 2019
ABUJA, Nigeria – The absence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Walter Kanu Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT) today stalled commencement of the trial of the false asset declaration charges slammed against the CJN by the Code of Conduct Bureau(CCB).
Onnoghen, who was represented in court by several SANS led by Chief Wole Olanipekun told the CCT that it is impossible to proceed with the trial in the absence of his client.
He averred that he has already filled an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charges, and that the application should not be heard in the absence of his client.
In objecting to his submission, Malam Umar Aliyu (SAN), counsel to the Code of Conduct Bureau said the defendant was duly served and that the application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal should not be entertained unless the CJN had taken his plea.
The tribunal chairman, Umar Danladi, ordered fresh service of summons on the CJN and adjourned till January 22, 2019 for possible arraignment of the CJN.
