CJN Onnoghen absent at Code of Conduct Tribunal as chairman adjourns case to January 22
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen was reportedly absent during proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday where he was expected to be docked for allegedly contravening the law.
Justice Onnoghen was being prosecuted over a six-count charge that borders around non-declaration of assets, which he claims was an oversight.
It was observed when the court official called out the case at about 10AM on Monday morning, that the CJN was not present. The tribunal chairman was notified of the development and he sought clarification as to why Justice Onnoghen was absent.
The defence team of the CJN led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) responded that their principal need not to be present at the hearing as he has already filed a motion to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
Moreover, the lead counsel argued that the CJN was not properly served with the charges and summons personally, but through his personal assistant.
The court official confirmed the assertion and further disclosed that the CJN “was served through his personal assistant.
“We went to his house and the defendant directed his personal assistant to collect the charge on his behalf,” the court official said.
After a long bout of rebuttals, the prosecuting counsel accepted that the CJN ought to have been served directly and ordered that the charges and summons should be served personally to Onnoghen.
“If, after the service is done, and the defendant is not present, we can then argue whether or not he needs to be present on the grounds that he has filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court,” the lead prosecutor, Danladi Umar concluded.
The proceeding was adjourned to January 22 for further hearing.
