The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, declined the request by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to make an order stopping the Code of Conduct Tribunal from proceeding with his trial.
The
Code of Conduct Tribunal had on January 14 fixed January 22 for hearing
in the six counts of false assets declaration filed by the Code of
Conduct Bureau against Justice Onnoghen.
The Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had also
filed a motion asking for an order directing Onnoghen to step down as
the CJN pending the conclusion of his planned trial before the CCT.
Two
non-governmental organisations – Centre for Justice and Peace
Initiative; and International Association of Students – had approached
the Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for orders quashing the charges
against the CJN.
In response to the NGOs, Justice Evelyn Maha of
the Federal High Court, Abuja had issued two separate orders directing
that status quo should be maintained in Justice Onnoghen’s case before
the CCT.
In furtherance of the steps to stop Justice Onnoghen’s
proposed arraignment before the CCT, his lawyers, led by Chief
Adegnoyega Awomolo (SAN), went before the Court of Appeal to obtain
another restraining order against the CCT.
Awomolo told a
three-man Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Abdu Aboki, that the
restraining order was necessary to preserve the subject matter of the
case at the CCT.
But Federal Government’s counsel, Emmanuel
Omonuwa, said he was only served with the court process by Justice
Onnoghen’s legal team on Monday morning and he needed at least three
days to reply.
After a short deliberation among themselves, the
three Justices of the appeal court declined granting Awomolo’s prayer to
halt the CCT proceedings against the CJN.
“We are of the view
that no form of order shall be made at his stage pending hearing of
motion on notice adjourned till January 24,” the panel ruled.
Source:- Punchng
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