Dr. Olisa Agbakoba,SAN, has
reacted to the bench warrant issued by the the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT,
against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen.
CCT on Wednesday also mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu
and the Director General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji to
effect his arrest.
This development was sequel to an
application by the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar praying the tribunal that a
bench warrant be issued against Onnoghen whom he said has been consistently
absent from court.
Umar, however, argued that his
application for a bench warrant was appropriate given that Onnoghen’s
none-appearance today was the main reason upon which the last adjournment was
approved.
But the defense counsel,
Adegboyega Awomolo made certain submissions citing, the unresolved applications
that must be done for purposes of fair hearing to his client, Onnoghen.
However, reacting in a terse
statement, Agbakoba stated that the CCT went too far by
issuing the arrest warrant, despite that its jurisdiction to try the case has
been challenged by the NJC .
He said, ”I am shocked that the
Code of Conduct Tribunal will issue a Bench warrant for the arrest of Hon.
Justice Walter Onnoghen, knowing full well that its jurisdiction to try the
case has been challenged and the Application on challenge is on the CCT docket,
and no hearing has occurred.
”The CCT is aware that there is
now before the National Judicial Council, a petition against Justice Walter
Onnoghen on exactly the same charges at the CCT.
”The CCT ought to await the
outcome of the pending matters in the NJC, Appeal Court and Federal High Court.
The conduct of the CCT subverts the Rule of Law and due process.”
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