The Code of Conduct Tribunal on
Monday adjourned until January 22 the next hearing in the trial of Chief
Justice Walter Onnoghen for alleged false asset declaration.
Mr Onnoghen faces six counts of
failing to disclose many bank accounts linked to him as a judge on the Supreme
Court, which he had allegedly used to save millions in local and foreign
currency.
At the opening hearing today, Mr
Onnoghen was absent, but he had a team of 47 senior lawyers, led by Wole
Olanipekun, who represented him.
Five out of six South-South
governors also joined opposition voices to prevail on Mr Onnoghen not to appear
before the tribunal.
It was not immediately clear
whether Mr Onnoghen’s absence was in compliance with the advice, which came
amidst allegations that the proceeding was vindictive and anti-democratic.
After initial disagreement about
whether or not Mr Onnoghen must appear to be docked before the court, between
prosecution and defence teams, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, said the
top judge must appear for trial.
The defence team is challenging
the jurisdiction of the case.
The matter, which opened at 10:05
a.m. was adjourned at 11:09 a.m., lasting roughly an hour.
Mr Umar said he would hear the
application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the corruption
case together with the docking of Mr Onnoghen at the adjourned date of January
22, Tuesday.
Mr Olanipekun argued on behalf of
Mr Onnoghen that the top jurist had not been previously investigated and
indicted by the National Judicial Council as required by law.
The charges against Mr Onnoghen
emanated from a petition submitted to the Code of Conduct Tribunal by a
politician of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who also served as a media
aide to President Muhammadu Buhari about 10 years ago.
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