…. To be Arraigned at CCT, Jan 14
Chukwuemeka Njoku, Abuja
History would be made on Monday , January 14th,2019, as the head of the nation’s judiciary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen will be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over allegation of non and fraudulent declaration of asset is slammed against him.
Specifically, Justice Onnoghen is being accused by the Federal Government of failing to declare his assets as required by law and for operating bank domiciliary foreign currency accounts.
The serving CJN will be docked before the Justice Danladi Y. Umar led CCT on six count charges.
Justice Onnoghen whose appointment to the exalted plum job suffered unprecedented delay by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues may be the first CJN in Nigeria to be docked in court over criminal charges.
Ibraheem Al-Hassan, Head, (Press & Public Relations), Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, confirmed on Saturday that a criminal charge has been filed against the number one judicial officer in Nigeria.
Al-Hassana disclosed that the CCT has already fixed Monday, 14th of January for the commencement of trial against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justce Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel for alleged non declaration of asset.
The CCT spokesperson said the planned arraignment of the CJN was consequent to an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman on Friday, January 11, 2019.
“Service of sumoms has been effected to the defendant, the three man panel led by Justice Danladi Y. Umar, will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January, 2019 at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00am.
“The application was filed yesterday 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 borders on non declaration of asset” a statement by CCT stated.
The Federal Government among others charges, is accusing Onnoghen of refusing to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
The CJN is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.
Apart from putting Justice Onnoghen in the dock on Monday, Kaftan Post gathered on good authority that a motion on notice is to be filed against him.
The motion will ask the court for an order requesting the CJN to vacate office and recuse himself so as to prevent alleged interference in his arraignment and trial.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria name withheld has been hired by the Federal Government to prosecute Justice Onnoghen.
It would be recalled the President of the Senate of Nigeria, Dr. Bukola Saraki was in 2015 shortly after he emerged the Head of the Legislature arraigned at the tribunal but the charges against him were quashed and he was discharged and acquitted by the tribunal on the ground that the charges against him by government were based on hearsay that could not stand in the face of the law.
Saraki’s discharge and acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court under the leadership of Justice Onnoghen.
