SAN FRANCISCO, January 22, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has applied for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, to step down to enable him defend himself over allegations of non-declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Counsel to the Federal Government in the case, Aliu Umar, made the submission at the resumed sitting of the CCT on Tuesday but added that the government is not seeking for the removal of the CJN.
Meanwhile, Onnoghen stayed away on from the proceedings for the second time as the prosecution had planned to commence his trial.
THEWILL recalls that Justice Onnoghen, first stayed away on January 14 this year, when the case was first mentioned.
The CJN, whose legal team is led by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), again stayed away on Tuesday and asked the tribunal to adjourn indefinitely pending the determination of his appeal now pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The Prosecution, led by Aliyu Umar (SAN), said although he has the power, under Paragraph 6 of the Code of Conduct Practice Direction, to apply that a bench warrant be issued against Onnoghen, he will not make such a request against the CJN.
He, however, urged the tribunal to exercise its power by making an interim order. He was silent on what the interim order should be directed at
Proceedings were then suspended for one hour to allow the three-man panel of the tribunal to consider arguments by lawyers to parties in the case.
The tribunal is expected to give its ruling when proceedings resume any moment from now.
