The Code of Conduct Tribunal
(CCT) says it will proceed with the trial of Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of
Nigeria (CJN).
The CCT gave its ruling at its
resumed sitting on Tuesday in spite of two court rulings against Onnoghen’s
trial.
While two members of the CCT
panel presiding over the case ruled that the trial be continued, the third
member opposed them.
The federal government is
prosecuting Onnoghen for alleged false assets declaration.
On two occasions, the National
Industrial Court (NIC) gave an order restraining the CCT from proceeding with
the trial. A federal high court had also ruled against the trial.
At the resumed sitting, Danladi
Umar, CCT chairman, said the orders of the federal high court and the National
Industrial Court are null and void.
He said the orders are not
binding on the tribunal and that none of the courts can stop the tribunal from
carrying out its constitutional duties.
Umar, however, ruled that the
pending application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the
case will proceed.
“The issues before the two courts
are hereby discountenanced and have no binding effect on the tribunal,” he
said.
The third member of the CCT panel
gave a contradictory ruling, arguing that the CCT is bound by the orders of the
federal high court and industrial court.
“The CCT cannot operate in
isolation,” he said.
“The issue of the jurisdiction
remains unresolved. Since this is the case, it will be dangerous to proceed
without resolving the issue.
“I am praying that the status quo
be maintained and the appeal should be allowed to decide the matter. This case
should therefore be adjourned sine die (indefinitely) pending the determination
of the appeal.”
The CCT subsequently adjourned
till Monday, February 4, for continuation of hearing.
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