Politics
CCT TRIAL: Suspended CJN Onnoghen closes defence after calling first witness
Septin,
Use this as content for the Onnoghen headline already published:
Embattled Justice Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) has to the surprise of many dropped his ongoing trial on charges of false and non-declaration of assets leveled against him.
Onnoghen’s decision comes as Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the lawyer for the defendant said on Monday that the defence would be calling “two or three witnesses,” only one of whom had testified at the previous Monday’s proceedings.
The CJN had on Monday called his driver, Lawal Olanrewaju Busari as his first witness.
Onnoghen also subsequently asked the tribunal to issue a subpoena to invite one Mrs. Theresa Nwafor, a Director with the Code of Conduct Bureau in Edo State, to appear as his second witness.
Read also: OYO GUBER: APC’s Adelabu approaches tribunal to contest victory of PDP’s Makinde
While informing the tribunal of the defense decision to close their case at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche said the decision was reached after a deep review of the matter.
He said, “My lords, today is for continuation of trial. But my lords, after a deep review of the evidence led by the prosecution and the defence, the defence has come to conclusion and we have closed our case.
“Pursuant to paragraph 14 of the Practice Direction of this honourable tribunal, we apply to file our final written addresses.”
He asked for 14 days to file the final written address.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...