CT declines ruling on Onnoghen’s objection, begins day-to-day trial

Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Monday declined to rule on motions filed by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, challenging the tribunal ’s jurisdiction to entertain his matter.

The CCT is trying the suspended CJN over alleged failure to declare his assets.

Onnoghen had in two separate motions challenged the tribunal ’s jurisdiction to entertain the charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

But when the case come up at the tribunal on Monday, CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, declined to rule on the motions.

He said that ruling on them would be delivered along with the final judgment on the case at the end of the trial of the suspended CJN.

The prosecution team led by Aliyu Umar (SAN), and the defence team led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had argued seriously on the propriety to first deliver rulings on the applications before going into the trial of the CJN.

Despite the argument, Umar insisted that the rulings could be delivered at the end of the trial along with the final judgment on the case.

He said the position of the CCT was in line with the provision of section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Paragraph 5 (5) of the Practice Direction of the tribunal.

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He further ordered that in line with the provision of section 396(3) of the ACJA, the trial would proceed day to day.

Umar later adjourned continuation on the matter till Tuesday for the hearing of the prosecution pending application and for commencement of trial.

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