Tribunal adjourns CJN Onnoghen’s trial till next week
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| Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen |
The proceedings were adjourned till January 22.
Key note (Headlines):
- South-South Governors Tell CJN To Ignore Planned CCT Trial
- The trial of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, commenced on Monday without him in attendance.
- Withdraw charges against CJN and apologise, the Senate deputy president Ekweremadu advises the Nigeria Federal Government
- Over 70 Lawyers At CCT Session To Defend CJN Onnoghen
The tribunal adjourned the case after the lead prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN), conceded that Onnoghen was not properly served with the charges and the summons.
Umar agreed that the CJN was not personally served with the charges and the court’s summons, as required by the law. He, therefore, requested the tribunal to direct a fresh service on the CJN.
Olanipekun had earlier told the tribunal that he and other defence lawyers only appeared in court in protest against the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
He also said that, from the account given by the court official earlier in the proceedings, the CJN was not served with the charges and summons personally, but through his aide.
He then insisted that the law requires that the defendant be served personally.
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| Over 70 Lawyers Arrive CCT Session To Defend CJN Onnoghen |
A team of lawyers number over 70 led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) arrived the Code Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja to defend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The defence team includes over 40 Senior Advocates Nigeria (SAN) with one SAN on the side of the prosecution.
The CJN is scheduled for arraignment before the tribunal today, although he has not been seen on the tribunal’s premises. The proceedings is scheduled to start by 10:00 a.m.
Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria in his defence team who were already seated awaiting the commencement of the proceedings include, Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, Wole Olanipekun, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo among others.
On the side of the prosecution, there are five lawyers led by Aliyu Umar SAN.
Justice Onnoghen is facing six charges bordering on failure to declare his assets and operating a domiciliary account, among other charges.
The charges against the CJN are based on a petition signed by the executive secretary of the anti-corruption research data based initiative, Dennis Aghanya.
The petition alleges amongst others things that the CJN failed to declare ownership of sundry accounts funded through cash deposits made by himself up to August 10, 2016.
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