CCT TRIAL: Again, Onnoghen goes after Tribunal chairman Umar

In a fresh application before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has demanded the withdrawal of the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar in the charge of false asset declaration against him.

The motion, filed on Monday was signed by Chris Uche (SAN), Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN), Okon Efut (SAN), Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Noah Abdul and George Ibrahim.

The motion was brought pursuant to Rule 12(1) and (1A) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2016 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the tribunal.

Onnoghen accused the CCT boss of “real likelihood of bias” while also noting that his pending case before the EFCC gave him no moral grounds to continue with his (Onnoghen’s) trial.

He added, “The learned chairman of the CCT (Hon Danladi Umar) is a tainted arbiter by reason of a criminal charge at the instance of the EFCC for receiving bribe money in the sum of N10m in charge number: CR/109/18 in FCT High Court by an organ under the supervision of the Attorney General of the Federation.

“Incidentally, he (AGF) is the prosecutor and complainant in this matter such that with such a sword of Damocles hanging over him, and himself not just recusing himself from a quasi-judicial function, he is himself not likely to be a fair arbiter, but instead more likely to trade in the charges against him in a quasi-plea bargaining in the charge against him and enter summary conviction in this proceedings to please the prosecutor.

“The applicant (Onnoghen) has no confidence in the chairman of the tribunal to do justice fairly between parties in this case as he is a man on a mission to please his masters.”

Read also: Onnoghen begs police to provide security for his property after herdsmen attack

Onnoghen is “seeking an order of this honourable tribunal for the honourable chairman of the tribunal, Honourable Danladi Umar, to disqualify/recuse himself from further participating in the adjudication of this case on the grounds of real likelihood of bias.”

The applicant also accused the CCT Chairman of neglecting the Nigeria constitution or recommendations from the National Judicial Council when he directed the appointment of Justice Tanko Mohammed to President Muhammadu Buhari as acting CJN.

He maintained that tge ex-parte order that backed the recommendation was not moved by any known prosecutor .

He therefore urged the court to consider Justice Umar’s presumed bias a threat to his ability to be a fair arbiter.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck out a motion filed by the Senate to seek interpretation into the suspension of Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari

Counsel to the Senate, Paul Erokoro (SAN) referred to the notice of discontinuance earlier filed on Monday.

The plaintiff’s pleas was not opposed by Lawyer to President Buhari, Mrs Maimuna Lami-Shiro, who led Tijani Gazali.

The seven-man panel of the court, led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, unanimously struck out the case.

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