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CJN Onnoghen Applies For Indefinite Suspension Of His Trial Before CCT

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Danladi Umar, Onnoghen,Code of Conduct Tribunal ,
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CJN’s Counsel Appeals For Court To Put A Stop To Prosecution Process

In his absence, The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen has asked the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to adjourn indefinitely, the case of non-declaration of assets filed against him.

His counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) made the application after bringing to the attention of the tribunal, several interim orders of several courts restraining the tribunal from going ahead with the case.

Naija News recalls that the National Industrial Court, a federal high court in Abuja among others have ordered the CCT to stop the prosecution process of the CJN while other law practitioners have noted that the case is quite dangerous as the CJN is the head of the Industrial Court.

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Olanipeku in his appeal, added that the Court of Appeal has resolved and adjourned to January 24 to hear an appeal against the January 14 ruling of the tribunal whereas the tribunal ordered that the motion filed by the prosecution on January 11 to be taken together with the motion filed by the defendant challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the tribunal to adjudicate the charge.

Reacting to the application to adjourn the case indefinitely, prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN) said Supreme Court had ruled that the tribunal is not subjected to the supervision of any (high) court, but that of the Court of Appeal.

Umar said the prosecution is not seeking for the removal of the defendant as the CJN and Chairman of NJC but the application is only seeking for him to step down in line with the decision of the NJC that judges accused of corruption should step aside pending the determination of the cases against them.

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As at the time of filing this report, the prosecutor is still responding to the application made by the defendant.