Drama at Onnoghen’s Trial as CJN Says ‘CCT Has No Power to Hear Case Against Me’

A team of 94 lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) arrived the Code Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja to defend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen. At least 47 of them are senior advocates of Nigeria who arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the opening hearing in the false assets declaration case against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Though,Chief Wole Olanipekun,SAN, who is standing in for the accused, Justice Walter Onnoghen says the CCT does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.

The CJN was scheduled for arraignment before the tribunal 10am but at the time of filling this report 10:15am, the embattled Chief Justice was not in court.

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria in his defence team who were already seated awaiting the commencement of the proceedings include, Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, Wole Olanipekun, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo among others.

On the side of the prosecution there are five lawyers led by Aliyu Umar SAN.

Mr Onnoghen is accused of failing to declare a series of bank accounts linked to him for several years, in alleged violation of the code of conduct law for public officeholders.

A petition containing the allegations was sent to the Code of Conduct Bureau on January 9, and the Code of Conduct Tribunal fixed Monday morning for commencement of trial.

The allegations were made by Denis’s Aghanya, a politician with history of working for President Muhammadu Buhari.

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