TheNewsGuru

Tag: Onnoghen

  • BREAKING: Tribunal adjourns till Jan 22 for hearing on CJN Onnoghen’s trial

    The first hearing in the false asset declaration suit filed against Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen opened on Monday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja has been adjourned till January 22 (Next week Tuesday).

    The scheduled trial, which has sparked reactions across the the country with many accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration of trying to oust the chief judge shortly before presidential election, to ensure he faces no risk of unfavourable court decision should the poll be disputed.

    At the hearing on Monday, dozens of senior lawyers stormed the court to defend the chief justice who was conspicuously absent.

    Wole Olanipekun (SAN) led a team of 46 other senior lawyers to enter defence for the chief justice.

    Onnoghen, Nigeria’s 17th Chief Justice, is the first serving Chief Justice to be arraigned for criminal offences. There is no immediate record of any former chief justice being charged in a similar manner, either.

    How the charges were filed has been amongst the most controversial aspects of the development since its disclosure on Saturday.

    The petition was forwarded to the Code of Conduct Bureau on January 9 by Dennis Aghanya, a former media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari and a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Enugu State.

    Lawyers, including the Nigerian Bar Association, have argued that Onnoghen’s trial would not stand because he has not been previously investigated and indicted by the National Judicial Council as required by an existing judgement.

    They rely on a decent decision of the Appeal Court in Lagos, which said the NJC must first sanction a serving Judge before they can be arraigned in any court.

    Although that Appeal Court judgment, which was delivered against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was appealed by the anti-graft office to the Supreme Court, no verdict had been reached on the matter.

    Onnoghen, who was confirmed Chief Justice in March 2017, is from Cross River State.

    On Sunday, five governors of the South South region, where where the embattled CJN hails from, held an emergency meeting and urged the jurist to ignore the charges and not attend the trial.

    How the trial went in court

    Meanwhile, when Danladi Umar, the Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, called the CJN’s case at about 10:08 on Monday, the CJN was declared absent.

    The led defence, Wole Olanipekin began by challenging the jurisdiction of the case.

    “You have to first determine whether you have the jurisdiction to try this matter,” Olanipekun said to the tribunal chairman.

    Olanipekun said the CJN has not been indicted by the National Judicial Council (NJC) as legally required of serving judges before his matter was picked up by the tribunal following a petition filed by a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Olanipekun also said Onnoghen was not given enough time to prepare for his arraignment before being summoned by the tribunal.

    The prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Umar, however said he had just been served with the application and argues that the arraignment ought to have taken place before any application is brought.

    Responding, Olanikpekun, asked if the tribunal had ordered a specific date for the arraignment.

    Olanipekun said the prosecution cannot talk of the arraignment of the person who has not been properly served and who has even appeared in protest of the matter.

    Umar, the prosecution counsel, however said there is no law that states a defendant shall refuse to appear before a court and say that he is contesting a suit.

    “He should be here. He may refuse to be arraigned and say that he is contesting the case,” he said.

    To which Olanipekun responded, “My learned friend with due respect is talking of what he thinks. We are talking of the law”.

    Reading through a 2018 judgement, Olanikpekun insisted that the arraignment cannot start where there is a problem with the process.

    “He said the presence of the accused person is only mandated when the trial officially commences.”

    Aliu responded by saying that no application should be heard where a plea has not be taken.

    He has asked the tribunal to give an order that the CJN be served again, but on a personal note.

    Umar also asked that a date be selected this week to serve the CJN.

    However, Olanikpekun insisted that the date cannot be within this week because the matter involves direct service to the CJN.

    Following pleas by Olanikpekun, the tribunal adjourned the matter till next Tuesday.

     

  • BREAKING: CJN Onnoghen absent in court as CCT trial commences [Photos]

    BREAKING: CJN Onnoghen absent in court as CCT trial commences [Photos]

    …as legal team storms court for his defence

    The proceedings of the arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has started but the embattled CJN was yet to arrive.

    The members of the Danladi Umar-led three-man tribunal arrived in the courtroom at exactly 10am.

    At 10.01am, the matter was called.

    The court official who announced the case observed that CJN was not present and then notified the tribunal chairman of the development.

    After the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), announced his appearance, the tribunal asked the court official whether the CJN had been served with the charges and summons.

    The court official confirmed that the CJN was served through his personal assistant.

    He said, “He 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.

    “So the defendant has been served.”

    About 30 SANs led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) with about 47 other lawyers, making about 87 were on record as appearing for the CJN on Monday.

    Four lawyers appeared with the lead prosecuting counsel

    Details later…

  • Alleged false asset declaration: APC defends trial as CJN Onnoghen appears before CCT today

    …Blasts PDP for defending ‘corruption’

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared support for the planned arraignment on Monday of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen and accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being sympathetic to corruption for calling against the plan.

    Recall that the CJN is scheduled to be arraigned by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on a six-count charge of alleged false asset declaration. The development followed a petition to the CCB by a group, the Anti-corruption and Research-based Data Initiative (ARDI).

    Speaking on the development in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Saturday, the PDP said it is part of a plot by the APC-led federal government to destabilise the Judiciary so as to rig the 2019 general elections.

    “This is particularly following allegations that the APC seeks a new CJN that will aid its rigging schemes as well as execute the plot to use the court to detain and put opposition members and outspoken members of Civil Society Organisations out of circulation during the general elections,” the PDP said.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and many lawyers in their personal capacities also condemned the decision to put the head of the Nigerian judiciary in the dock.

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), in a statement by its spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Saturday described the planned arraignment of Mr Onnoghen as a plot by the government to force him out of office to help President Muhammadu Buhari manipulate the election tribunal.

    The six governors from the South-South region on Sunday night advised the embattled CJN to ignore the court summons.

    The APC spoke for the first time on the development through a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, saying the swift reaction by the PDP exposed the opposition party as one with a natural inclination to rise up in defence of cases of alleged corruption.

    It said it expected the PDP to call for impartial investigations when corruption cases are levelled against public officers, but “spinning falsehoods and conspiracies” remains the opposition party’s favourite past time.

    The ruling party dismissed as baseless the allegation that the move against Onnoghen is a plot to rig the election and urged Nigerians to disregarded such allegations, as APC is committed to ensuring a free and fair election.

    “The PDP’s baseless conspiracy theory on APC’s participation in the 2019 general elections should hereby be disregarded. We remain solidly committed to ensuring that the forthcoming elections go on record as one of the freest, most credible and peaceful elections in the country.”

    It emphasised that the fight against corruption remains a cardinal promise by the APC to the electorate.

    The party assured that the President Buhari administration remains uncompromising in its determination to rid the country of corruption and will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any public officer if and when such is indicted for corruption.

  • Onnoghen: Nigeria not a banana republic – Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has called for caution in the charges filed against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Walter Onnoghen by the Federal Government.

    In a statement issued yesterday, Dogara said that while the House awaits further briefing from relevant agencies, nevertheless, it is important that due process is followed because Nigeria is a country governed by laws and not dictates of men.

    He noted that the House is not less zealous in the fight against corruption, but said to commence a matter of that grave magnitude with a media trial is pregnant with innuendos least needed by the polity at this sensitive time.

    The Speaker asserts that Nigeria is a country governed by laws with clearly spelt out procedures and processes for their activation and not the dictates of men. Dogara: “It is important that people in authority should exercise power with decorum and not plunge the nation to needless crises as Nigeria is not a banana republic.

    “This is a matter that affects another arm of government and its head which should be treated with caution so as not to send the wrong signal that there is a political undertone or other ulterior motives to the issue.

    “As we raised our voice when the National Assembly was invaded by hooded security men last year, it is incumbent on us as the legislature to voice our concerns because we operate under system where three arms of government are co-equal branches and enjoy a measure of independence guaranteed by the Constitution.

    “As we approach the general elections, it is incumbent on the prosecutorial authorities to exercise caution and treat matters of this nature with utmost circumspection.”

  • Ijaw youths attack Buhari over trial of CJN, says it’s desecration of citadel of justice

    The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned the moves by the Federal Government to force the Chief Justice of Nigerian, CJN, Walter Onnoghen out of office.

    The group in a press statement signed by its president, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, described the planned trial of Onnoghen as the height of desperation by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to cow other arms of government.

    The statement:

    The planned trial of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen by agency of the Federal Government is the height of desperation by the Executive Arm to cow and emasculate the other arms of the government. The circumstances surrounding the hasty trial of the nation’s top judicial officer is suspicious and has political undertone.

    The prosecuting body, CCB does not take into the cognizance of the sensitivity of its action. Thus, the agency was not circumspect in embarking on this retrogressive action. You alleged to have received a petition against the CJN on the 9th of January, 2019 and within a period of 24hours you allegedly concluded your investigation and thereby filed charges on the 10th of January, 2019 against the CJN?

    There is more to this hasty trial than meet the ordinary eyes. A judicial officer by the relevant provisions of the extant laws of the land as well as judicial precedents cannot be tried for crime without being tried by the National Judicial Council (NJC). The CCB ought to have first referred the matter to the NJC for its action and recommendation before embarking on this unholy journey.

    President Buhari’s Executive Arm is notorious for violating this practice which is clearly provided in the Constitution. You can’t claimed to be enforcing the laws of the land through an unconstitutional means. The trial of the CJN which is against the known conventional practice is a desecration of the citadel of justice. This an affront on the sacred doctrine of the separation of powers. This innocuous practice can only begets totalitarianism which is a recipe for anarchy.

    Fighting corrupt is a commendable act but it should be fought within the ambit of the law in order to deepen our democratic practice. The timing of this rash and spur-of-the-moment action is totally wrong. The FG is only sending wrong signals to Nigerians and indeed, the international community that it wants to cow and emasculate the judiciary into doing its bidding as we enter into the general elections.

    People should not play with the intelligence of Nigerians. This year’s elections are going to be defining moment for this Country. Any plan to subvert the will of the people by using the state’s apparatus to aid its rigging plans will fall between Stoll because Nigerians are ready to take their destinies in their hands. Those who are nursing this fraudulent ambition in the elections should first think about the Country.

    There would not have been Nigeria of our dream today had former President Goodluck Jonathan did not engendered free, fair and credible elections which eventually brought the then opposition party into power. Those who benefited from Jonathan’s democratic credentials should do well to uphold his legacies otherwise they may set the Country on a needless conflagration.

    Signed:

    Barr. Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi,
    President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

     

     

  • Onnoghen: Opposition parties, Sagay, NBA, others react to pending trial at CCT

    Onnoghen: Opposition parties, Sagay, NBA, others react to pending trial at CCT

    Barring a late minute change, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, has a date in court in Abuja tomorrow for alleged failure to declare some of his assets, including about $3million.

    Onnoghen is scheduled to be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The Federal Government has already filed a six-count charge against him in that respect.

    However, reactions have trailed the planned trial of the CJN at the CCt on Monday. While others see it as justice taking its course, others say it is an attempt by President Buhari to remove the CJN from office.

    Read reactions below:

    CJN’s prosecution shows no one is above the law –Sagay

    But the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), says the planned prosecution of the CJN shows that no one is above the law.

    Sagay told one of our correspondents that although the prosecution of the CJN was saddening, it had shown that Nigeria was slowly becoming a nation of laws.

    The senior advocate also responded to the arraignment of the President of the NBA, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), last year.

    The PACAC chairman said, “It shows that in Nigeria, nobody is above the law. I do not rejoice neither am I pleased that such high officials are being probed or investigated but it shows that in Nigeria, the law is working and that the rule of law operates and that no one is higher than the law.

    “That is the good aspect of it. Otherwise, I am not happy about it but if the reason arises why they should be investigated or invited and they are invited, it shows that the Nigerian legal system is working and that the rule of law operates but if it is you or I, you know that automatically, we will be indicted; but when the bigger guns in the country, who have all the power are also being indicted, it means it is a good sign for the rule of law in Nigeria.”

    When reminded of the fact that the CJN would be arraigned before Danladi Umar of the CCT, who has also been accused of corruption, Sagay said the Federal Government had no other option.

    He said, “I see a point. It is a sad reflection on the state of corruption in Nigeria but I think at the end of the day, everybody will come to justice and we will have a clean slate. This is the best we can do now.”

    Agbakoba condemns planned CJN’s arraignment

    Meanwhile, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has condemned the planned arraignment of Onnoghen on charges of non-declaration of assets.

    Speaking on the development on Saturday, Agbakoba described the development as one of the most draconian breaches of the Nigerian Constitution ever witnessed in the country.

    He said, “If this is correct, then it will be one of the most draconian breaches of the Constitution Nigerian has ever seen.

    “In the event that the CJN is complicit in anything, there are only two procedures to deal with him.

    “One is to lay an impeachment charge against him in the Senate and if he is found guilty, the Senate will proceed to remove him upon a prayer by two-thirds of the members of the Senate. That is the constitutionally-prescribed procedure.”

    Opposition parties plan one million-man march

    In the same vein, opposition parties on the platform of the Coalition of United Political Parties are planning a one million-man march to protest the planned trial of Onnoghen before the CCT.

    The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

    “Nigerian opposition will immediately commence mobilisation for a one million-man march to save the Nigerian judiciary from President Buhari’s reign of destruction,” he said.

    He described Onnoghen’s planned arraignment as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

    He said the plan was the latest in the strategies being deployed by the present administration to rig the forthcoming elections.

    He added, “The Presidency had, during the appointment of Justice Onnoghen, shown its card that it was not comfortable with his appointment hence it was delayed until President Buhari was hurried out of the country due to perennial illness.

    “Justice Onnoghen has since shown that he is fair, firm, and able to do justice and will not succumb to the pressure of a Presidency that is planning to rig an election as the only hope of winning a reelection following their rejection by the Nigerian people.

    “This dastardly move by the Presidency is the last desperate act of an outgoing government to blackmail the CJN out of office and bring in a rogue judge to allow APC’s rigging.”

    Buhari behind plot to remove Onnoghen –PANDEF

    Reacting to the development, the President, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, said the South-South region would not accept the harassment and removal of Onnoghen.

    He stated that the planned prosecution of Onnoghen was a ploy by Buhari to remove the CJN and install his candidate as CJN, adding that the move would be resisted by the Niger Delta people.

    Clark said, “The news of the (planned) arraignment of the CJN came to us as a surprise. He has been doing his job satisfactorily; he is an intelligent man. But Mr. President, who never wanted him to be appointed, before the election, he now wants to remove him in order to put his own candidate as CJN so that after rigging the election, he would set up the tribunal that would try the case.

    “If he didn’t declare his assets, there is a procedure. Why didn’t they follow that procedure? This harassment will not be accepted by us.”

    A pro-democracy group, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, also said it would resist the planned removal of the CJN.

    CDNDC, in a statement by its Convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said, “From the outset, the despotic Buhari regime had fruitlessly sought to control and undermine the judiciary to do its illegal bidding, but it failed.

    “The unfolding plot is part of Buhari’s plan to drive Nigeria into a closed society where only extremists can survive. We will mobilise Nigerians to resist another phase of assault on the judiciary.”

    NBA condemns FG over CJN’s arraignment before CCT

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Saturday evening rose stoutly in the defence of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, over his planned arraignment before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged non disclosure of foreign accounts. NBA warned the Federal government to stop “debasing the rule of Law.

    Other Nigerian lawyers have also condemned the move by government, calling it “an en enthronement of fascism and dictatorship by the Buhari administration”. Many other lawyers further says it an attempt to destabilize the judiciary, 36 days to the general elections for President Muha,mmadu Buhari, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the elections in their favour.

    Others yet read an ethnic colouration to the arraignment, saying that the next Justice to Justice Onnoghen, Justice, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed, is a northerner. The argued that President Buhari wants to install a northerner that will help him and his party in election disputes.

    In a statement issued by the NBA President, Paul Usoro SAN, the body of lawyers says “Nigeria is witnessing the media trial of the CJN, which is a targeted assault of the judiciary”

    Excerpts: “Nigerians have witnessed again the targeted assault of the judiciary by agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”) epitomized by today’s media trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honorable Mr. Justice Walter S N Onnoghen, GCON (“CJN”). According to media reports which have now been validated by the Statement of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (“CCT”) that was released today an application was “filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges” and that the CCT “will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January 2019”. The Nigerian Bar Association unequivocally condemns this assault, intimidation and desecration of the Judiciary by FGN agencies and demands that it be stopped immediately.

    In Nganjiwa v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2017) LPELR-43391(CA), the Court of Appeal made it very clear that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer must first be reported to and handled by the National Judicial Council (“NJC”) pursuant to the provisions of our laws. Only after the NJC has pronounced against such judicial officer can the prosecuting agencies of the Federal Government proceed against him.

    As the Court pointed out, these requirements of the law are anchored on the overriding principles of separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary and the legislature and on the need to preserve, promote and protect the independence of the judiciary. Our respective liberties and the rule of law are best protected and preserved if the judiciary remains independent and shielded from intimidation and assault by the other arms of the government.

    In Nganjiwa v FRN (supra), the Court of Appeal made reference to Rule 3 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of February 2016 (“Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers”)and held that the said Rule 3 “makes provision in relation to fidelity to the Constitution and the Law”.

    The provisions in regard to assets declaration as they apply to all public officers including the CJN are contained in both the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 1991, the enabling law that establishes both the Code of Conduct Bureau (“CCB”) and the CCT.

    The fidelity which judicial officers therefore owe “to the Constitution and the Law” pursuant to Rule 3 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers encompasses compliance with the provisions relating to assets declarations as contained in the Constitution and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. Any infraction in that regard by a judicial officer, as the Court of Appeal rightly held, constitutes a misconduct by the judicial officer and becomes the subject matter for discipline by the NJC as a condition precedent to any possible prosecution of the judicial officer by any of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies.

    4. Why has FGN decided to embark on this anomalous course of charging the CJN before the CCT without first presenting whatever facts it purportedly has against His Lordship to the NJC for its deliberation and determination? The Petition that triggered the CCB action was on its face received by the Bureau on 09 January 2019 and the Charge was promptly drafted and is dated the following day, 10 January 2019 – giving the CCB a record 24 hours for completion of its investigation and the drafting of the said Charge and ancillary processes!

    If one contemplates the fact that the CCT arraignment is scheduled to take place on 14 January 2019, we have in total a record number of 3 (three) working days between the receipt and processing of the petition, investigation, preparation of Charge and ancillary processes and the arraignment! Such unprecedented speed and efficiency in Nigeria’s criminal justice administration! It is clear, given the rush with which this matter was conducted by the CCB, that the NJC was not privy to it and did not conduct its mandatorily required disciplinary processes prior to the filing of the Charge before the CCT.

    We still wonder why the FGN choose to deviate from the laid down and explicit provisions of the law as expounded in Nganjiwa v FRN (supra). Could it be that it was misadvised? Or is this a naked show of power and force by agencies of the FGN? And why embark on the media trial of the CJN? This, unfortunately, is a predilection of the FGN’s prosecuting agencies with the possible exception of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    As the NBA pointed out in its International Anti-Corruption Day Statement that was issued on 09 December 2018 “media trial of persons charged with corrupt practices . . . amount to corruption itself. Indeed, those orchestrated media trials degrade and corrupt the justice administration system quite apart from the incalculable (but obviously intended) damage that it does to persons who may ultimately be discharged and acquitted.

    In point of fact, it is corrupt practice to use as license or hide under the cover of the fight against corruption to recklessly destroy the names, characters and reputations of persons who have not been found guilty of corrupt practices by competent courts and who may ultimately be pronounced innocent of such charges.” These media trials must, alongside the on-going desecration and assault of the judiciary, cease forthwith.

    There are two final issues that we must touch upon in this Statement, albeit, briefly. First, could it possibly be a coincidence that the current assault on the judiciary is taking place only weeks to the 2019 National Election? Apart from the conduct itself being wrongful and deplorable, its timing is condemnable.

    FGN will find it difficult to convince any reasonable person that its assault against the CJN and by extension the judiciary is not aimed at emasculating that arm of the government and intimidating our Judges ahead of the 2019 National Elections. In our afore-referenced International Anti-Corruption Day Statement, the NBA had deplored “conducts that qualify as . . . political non-accountability, absence of transparency and impunity in public service.” The FGN’s conduct in this instance qualifies, amongst others, as “impunity in public service”.

    As a final point, it is also difficult for a disinterested observer not to see a pattern of consistent assault by agencies of the FGN on the heads of the two independent arms of government, to wit, the legislature and the judiciary, starting with the prosecution of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the CCT and now, the ill-fated prosecution of the CJN before the same CCT.

    The impression must not be created that the agencies of the Executive arm of the FGN are interested in destabilizing and laying prostrate the other arms of the Government and in the process eliminating and destroying any and all voices of dissent and checks and balances. That is not desirable for the democracy that we strive to build neither is it good for the image of the Government. We urge restraint on the part of Government and demand that the CCB follow due process in proceeding against the CJN by complying with Nganjiwa’s Judgment (supra) and other similar judicial precedents. This continuing attack on the justice sector must cease forthwith. FGN and its agencies must desist from debasing the rule of law”.

  • The case against CJN Onnoghen – Content of the petition

    Barring a late minute change, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, has a date in court in Abuja tomorrow for alleged failure to declare some of his assets, including about $3million.

    Onnoghen is scheduled to be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The Federal Government has already filed a six-count charge against him in that respect.

    The $3million in said to be lodged in five accounts.

    The domiciliary and Naira accounts in the Standard Chartered Bank are coded as USD account No. 870001062650; Euro account No. 93001062686; Pound Sterling A/CNo. 285001062679; e-Saver Savings (Naira) account No. 5001062693; and a Naira A/C No. 010001062667.

    The alleged undeclared amount is put at about $3million in the evidence before the CCT.

    The charge sheet is dated January 10 and filed on January 11.

    Onnoghen will be prosecuted by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    The application to put the CJN on trial was filed by two prosecutors, Musa Ibrahim Usman and Fatima Danjuma Ali on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

    The application reads: “Pursuant to Section 24 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, I hereby apply to the Tribunal for the commencement of trial for the offence of failure to submit all assets and liabilities contrary to Paragraphs 15(1) and (2), Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 11(1) of the Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) and punishable under paragraph 18(1) and (2) of same constitution against Honourable Mr. Justice Walter S. Nkanu Onnoghen( GCON).

    “In support of this application, I attach herewith four copies of the charge, affidavit and summary of evidence consisting of a list of witnesses.

    “If the application is granted, we shall be relying on the facts disclosed in the summary of evidence and further evidence the tribunal may consider necessary at the trial.

    “I attach herewith four copies of the charge against the accused.”

    In an affidavit in support of the application by an investigator with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Mr. James Akpala said “it is in the public interest to charge the CJN.”

    He said: “I know as a fact that the Head Office of the Bureau received a petition alleging that the CJN failed to declare his assets according to the law.

    “I know as a fact that the defendant did not comply with the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers in that he failed to declare his assets after his elevation to the Supreme Court and immediately after taking oath of office in the year 2005 and he failed to declare his five Standard Chartered Bank accounts in his two forms CCB1 leveled 2014 and 2016 respectively.

    “The investigation had been concluded and it is in the public interest to charge the defendant. That all witnesses are ready and available to testify. That prosecution is ready to commence trial.

    “At the trial, the complainant will rely on the testimony of the witnesses set down in the list attached hereto and tender all relevant documents in proof of the case.”

    The allegations against the CJN are as follows:

    “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer serving as a Judicial Officer in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Justice of the Supreme Court failed to declare and submit a written declaration of all your assets and liabilities within the prescribed period of three months after being sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 8th day of June 2005 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Coded of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria( LFN) 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act.

    • “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form CCB 1(after you were sworn-in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a domiciliary (US dollar) account No. 870001062650 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank(Nig.) Limited Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(2) read along with Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act
    • “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form CCB 1(after you were sworn-in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a domiciliary (Euro) account No. 93001062686 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig.) Ltd. Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(2) read along with Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act.
    • “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form CCB 1(after you were sworn-in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare a domiciliary(Pound Sterling) account No. 285001062679 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig.) Ltd. Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(2) read along with Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act
    • “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December 2016 falsely declared your assets in your Declaration of Assets Form CCB 1(after you were sworn-in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) by omitting to declare an e-Saver Savings (Naira) account No. 5001062693 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig.) Ltd. Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(2) read along with Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act.
    • “That you, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, CJN, GCON between 8th June 2005 to 14th December 2016 being a public officer as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who is under a duty to declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau on or about 14th December 2016 falsely failed to declare assets in your Declaration of Assets Form CCB 1(after you were sworn-in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) a Naira Account No. 010001062667 maintained with Standard Chartered Bank (Nig.) Ltd. Wuse 2, Abuja which is being operated since 2011 and you thereby contravened the provisions of Section 15(2) read along with Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 23(2) a, b, c, of the same Act.

  • Onnoghen’s CCT trial: South South Governors hold emergency meeting today

    Six governors of the South-South region have called an emergency meeting to discuss the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The governors said they felt duty-bound to prevent the development from escalating in a country with jarring ethnic and tribal fault lines.

    “It is a grave and dangerous escalation, coming a few weeks to the general elections,” said Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in a statement Saturday night.

    The meeting is scheduled for Sunday in Abuja, Dickson’s spokesperson Fidelis Soriwei added in an e-mail announcing the planned caucus.

    The five remaining governors of the South-South are Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Godwin Obaseki of Edo. Out of the six governors from the region, only Godwin Obaseki of Edo State is of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the rest belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria’s main opposition entity.

    Onnoghen, from Cross River, has been accused of improper declaration of assets, with the Nigerian government filing six charges that it said violated the code of conduct law for public officers.

    Onnoghen denied all allegations against him. The top jurist is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Abuja.

    Although Dickson said he was yet to learn full derails of the corruption charges against Onnoghen, the governor nonetheless warned that that “all efforts must be on deck to prevent the subversion and desecration of the ethos of democracy in Nigeria as nation moves nearer to the election.”

  • Buhari not behind Onnoghen’s trial at CCT – Presidency

    Buhari not behind Onnoghen’s trial at CCT – Presidency

    …says Buhari still in shock over CJN’s planned trial

    The Special Adviser to the President on Politics, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said last night that President Muhammadu Buhari did not ask the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to resign.

    Ojudu made the clarification in a comment posted on CACOL WhatsApp group.

    It was the first reaction by a government official to the controversy generated by the filing of charges against Justice Onnoghen.

    He said: “Buhari never at any time demanded CJ’s resignation. I challenge anyone who says so to cite the pronouncement, the press statement or quote any public official who made such announcement.”

    According to close sources, the Presidency was not in support of the planned trial of Justice Onnoghen for alleged failure to declare his assets.

    Buhari, according to well-placed Presidency sources, was shocked about the development.

    Sources said the planned trial may have been hatched by fifth columnists in the corridors of power to embarrass the Presidency and create misunderstanding between the judiciary and the federal government.

    Speaking on conditions of anonymity last night, official government sources explained that the only impact such an action would generate at this time is distasteful.

    “Let me tell you point blank Mr. President is not aware and was shocked at the development. It is not going to fly,” a top government official said.

    Another official said: “whatever may be the merits of the case being put against the CJN, it is not advisable at this time. So it is not about the rightness of the planned action.”

    Asked whether the trial would go ahead, the source said: “what is certain right now is that this came as a shock to the Presidency and does not enjoy approval of any kind. You can figure out the rest.”

    When contacted last night over the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that he had not been briefed on the matter.

    “I have not been briefed on it,” was all he said.

  • Alleged false asset declaration: CCT constitutes panel to try CJN Onnoghen

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has raised a panel to try Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, who is accused of lying in his asset declaration.

    The tribunal on Saturday announced that corruption charges had been raised against Mr Onnoghen and the trial will commence on Monday.

    TNG gathered that the case is built on a petition filed by a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative.

    The petition dated January 7, 2019, accuses Mr Onnoghen of managing several accounts through which has been making transfers of local and foreign currencies in “a manner inconsistent with financial accuracy,” the petition signed by the group’s executive secretary, Denis Aghanya, said.

    In its statement, the CCT said the trial “was consequent to application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges”.

    “The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11st January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing 6 count charges all borders on non declaration of asset,” a statement signed by Ibraheem Al-Hassan, head of press and public relations of CCT, said.

    A three-member panel led by Justice Danladi Umar will commence the trial on Monday at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki Biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00 a.m.