How CJN can avoid arraignment, by lawyers

Despite strenuous arguments against the competence and timing of the charge pending against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, only few options exist for the CJN to avoid his arraignment scheduled for today before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), law experts have said.

The arraignment could only be put aside either by the intervention of the Presidency, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) or the Chairman of the CCT, who could decide to adjourn the tribunal’s proceedings to a later date, The Nation has learnt.

The CJN, the experts noted, could also decline to attend the proceedings on which basis, the tribunal could, upon an application by the prosecution, issue an arrest warrant.

These options, some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), who prayed for anonymity, argued only exist, despite the Appeal Court’s judgment in Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391(CA), in view of the provisions of sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the public interest the case has attracted since information went public at the weekend about the CJN’s scheduled arraignment before the CCT today.

The Nation, January 14, 2019

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