CCT adjourns Onnoghen’s trial indefinitely

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria.

The adjournment was announced by the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar following a stay of prosecution order by the Court Appeal in Abuja.

Justice Onnoghen’s lead counsel and former minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi told the tribunal that a stay of prosecution of Justice Walter Onnoghen has been ordered by the Court of Appeal.

He added that if the tribunal goes ahead with hearing the substantive case against Onnoghen, it would amount to contempt of a superior court of competent jurisdiction.

“My Lord, a stay of prosecution by the Appeal Court has been filed at the CCT, and this means if the case proceeds against Justice Onnoghen, it would amount to contempt of the superior court,” Agabi averred.

The tribunal chairman, while acknowledging the stay of prosecution order, adjourned the case indefinitely.

The federal government is prosecuting Onnoghen at the CCT for alleged false assets declaration.

Onnoghen had through his lawyers filed an application at the appeal court challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction to sit over the case.

Last week, the appellate court directed the tribunal to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the CJN’s application.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday sworn in Tanko Mohammed as the new CJN, pending the determination of the case against Onnoghen.

Buhari based his action on an order of the CCT.

The UK, US and European Union had expressed concerns over the development.