CJN challenges moves to replace him, to shun CCT today

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop his arraignment at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja.

Justice Onnoghen in a motion on notice by his counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), asks the appellate court to restrain the CCT from proceeding with the case today.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) filed a six-count charge against the CJN at the CCT over alleged failure to declare his asset upon assumption of office as provided  by law.

The arraignment was stalled on January 14 after the CJN said he was not properly served with the summons of the tribunal.

onnoghen, who is facing charges over alleged non-declaration of assets, also asked the court to stop the suit by the Federal Government asking the court to order him to step aside.

However, counsel to the Federal Government, Emmanuel Omonuwa, who is a civil litigation officer with the Federal Ministry of Justice, said he got to know of the matter Monday morning and had no time to file a response.

He said the court papers were served on ministry at close of work on Friday and he would require more time to respond.

The three-man panel of justices presided by Justice Abdul Aboki declined to make an interim order stopping the trial, but ordered an adjournment to January 24 for hearing.

Two NGOs had earlier obtained an order of an Abuja Federal High Court restraining the CCT from going ahead with Justice Onnoghen’s arraignment.

Also, on Monday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja affirmed an earlier order directing all the parties in the case to maintain the status quo.