FG set to arraign CJN, Onnoghen before Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday
The Federal Government has confirmed its intention to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over the allegation of false declaration of asset.
The head of press and public relations of the tribunal, Ibraheem Al-Hassan revealed that the application was filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau, seeking to bring a six-count charge against the CJN.
The CCB submitted the file to the CCT chairman on Friday to act in response to a petition leveled against Justice Onnoghen by the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI).
“The application was filed [sic] by the operatives of CCB, dated 11th January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all bothers on non declaration of asset.”
If Onnoghen is found guilty of the charges, he risks being stripped of his position as the Chief Justice and might be banned from holding public office for up to a period of ten years. He could also be forced to forfeit all the assets that he did not declare.
To ensure that the CJN is given a fair trial, about 150 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have offered to defend him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Monday, January 14, 2019.
