The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mr. Walter Onnoghen was on Tuesday absent at the resumed sitting of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja when his trial in an alleged non-declaration of asset case began.
The CJN’s absence did not, however, stop protesters from storming the premises of the CCT requesting the stoppage of Onnoghen’s trial.
The CCT 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 Onnoghen.
When proceedings commenced around 10.21am, Chief Wole Olanipekun and 42 other senior advocates and 40 lawyers announced their appearance for the defendant.
It would be recalled that the federal government had filed a six-count criminal charge bordering on failure to declare his assets against the CJN.
Onnoghen was scheduled for arraignment last week, January 14 but the arraignment could not take place due to improper service of the charge on the CJN, forcing the tribunal to adjourn till today.
Onnoghen, citing improper service was not present in court on January 14, the earlier scheduled date for his arraignment.
But in the last one week, three different courts and the National Industrial Court, Abuja had given orders restraining the CCT from going ahead with the trial.
On Monday, the industrial court in restating its order against the trial pending the determination of a suit seeking to stop the forceful removal of Onnoghen from office directed service of hearing notice on the Chairman of the CCT through substituted service.
On Tuesday, the hearing notice as well as the enroll order of the National Industrial Court was seen pasted at the gate and walls of the tribunal.
With ThisDay report
