Admin l Friday, Feb. 16, 2019
ABUJA, Nigeria – Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Kanu Onnoghen has been docked by the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT).
The Chief Justice of Nigeria who hitherto refused to attend the trial forced Mr. Danladi Umar-led panel to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
Specifically, the CCT Chairman, Umar, had 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 the tribunal on the adjourned date.
Onnoghen who is on trial for alleged false asset declaration arrived the court around 9:30am, mounted the dock immediately his case was called for hearing. He arrived in company of his friends and lawyer.
In the charge designated CCT/01/2019, Onnoghen is alleged to have operated foreign bank accounts in contravention of the code of conduct for public officials.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of false asset declaration brought against him by the Nigerian government. After taking his pleas, Mr Onnoghen’s lawyer, Chris Uche, asked for bail of his client.
The request was immediately granted by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, without hearing from the prosecution. An application for an adjournment was made by the defence counsel, and was not objected by the prosecution.
