CCT has gone too far with order to arrest Onnoghen –Agbakoba

Former president of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has expressed shock over the issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The CCT led by Danladi Umar had on Wednesday after Onnoghen failed to appear before the tribunal to answer for his alleged asset declaration offense, ordered for his arrest by security agencies.

But reacting in a statement on Wednesday Agbakoba said, “I am shocked that the Code of Conduct Tribunal will issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, 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 Onnoghen 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.”

READ ALSO: NJC forms 5-man panel to investigate Justices Onnoghen, Muhammad

Different applications and petitions bothering on the Onnoghen issue are currently being looked into by the Federal High Court, Appeal Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

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