The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, on Friday 15th February 2019 voluntarily arrived the Code of Conduct Tribunal at about 9.40am on Friday following Wednesday’s order by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, for his arrest.
Recall that the tribunal ordered Mr. Onnoghen’s arrest on Wednesday after he was repeatedly absent from hearings.
The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria then entered the dock to answer to the charges of non-declaration of charges instituted against him. His lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), announced the presence of Onnoghen shortly after the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar led two other members to the courtroom at about 10.34am.
Onnoghen, pleaded not guilty to the six counts of non-declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, where he was immediately granted bail on self-recognition by the tribunal following a short oral application by the defense counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN).
After the bail was granted, Uche also applied to the tribunal to adjourn to a date after the general elections.
Ruling on the application, the tribunal chairman, agreed with the defense lawyer. The CCT chairman ordered the withdrawal of the arrest warrant due to Onnoghen’s voluntary submission to the tribunal.
Umar added that the order of arrest has been withdrawn on the condition that the suspended CJN would continue to be present in court throughout the period of his trial. The trail has been adjourned to March 11th, 2019 where all application for the proceedings would be heard.