Olisa Agbakoba Berates CCT Over Arrest Order Against Onnoghen

Lawyer Condemns Arrest Order Against Onnoghen

A Former President of the Nigeria Bar association, Olisa Agbakoba in a swift reaction to the bench warrant for the arrest of Justice Walter Onnogen has described the action of the CCT  as an extreme move.

Naija News understands that he insisted the CCT should not have issued the warrant when its jurisdiction to try the case is still been challenged in Court.

Recall the CCT on Wednesday mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji to effect his arrest and present him before the tribunal on Friday.

This development was sequel to an application by the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar, praying the tribunal that a bench warrant be issued against Onnoghen whom he said has been consistently absent from court.

The senior advocate of Nigeria added that the application on the challenge is on the CCT docket, and no hearing has occurred yet.

Dr. Agbakoba says the CCT should have waited for the outcome of NJC’s intervention, and the cases before the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court.

He insists the conduct of the CCT subverts the Rule of Law and due process.

3 days to Saturdays elections and the @MBuhari government files for an warrant arrest against CJN Onnoghen. This desperation should end on Saturday. They rushed to arrest Babachir so they can look good arresting Onnoghen. Nigerians should arrest them on Saturday #SweepOutBuhari

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) February 13, 2019

“I am shocked that the Code of Conduct Tribunal will issue a Bench warrant for the arrest of Hon. Justice Walter Onnogen, knowing full well that its jurisdiction to try the case has been challenged and the Application on challenge is on the CCT docket, and no hearing has occurred.”

“The CCT is aware that there is now before the National Judicial Council, a petition against Justice Walter Onnogen on exactly the same charges at the CCT. The CCT ought to await the outcome of the pending matters in the NJC, Appeal Court and Federal High Court. The conduct of the CCT subverts the Rule of Law and due process,” Agbakoba said on Wednesday.