BREAKING: CCT Dismisses Onnoghen’s Objections

The Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, challenging the validity of the 6-count charge instituted against him by the Federal Government over allegation of non – declaration of assets.

Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, alongside two other members of the panel, said Onnoghen’s preliminary objection was lacking in merit and consequently dismissed it.

In dismissing the motion on notice dated January 14, 2019, the CCT chairman overruled itself on a judgement he earlier gave in the case of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta v FG, wherein the tribunal had held that it was wrong for the FG to prosecute a serving judicial officer without referring the case, first, to the National Judicial Council.

The CCT chairman said he would not hesitate to overrule himself on the Ngwuta judgment since he noticed that the decision was based on a wrong legal principle.

Besides, Danladi Umar, insisted that Onnoghen was prosecuted as an ordinary public officer and not as a serving judicial officer.

More so, the CCT dismissed the second leg of Onnoghen’s objection which challenged the competence of Danladi Umar to conduct his trial in view of the case he has with EFCC.

Whithout mincing words, the CCT chairman said he was competent to hear the case because he has no case to answer before the EFCC.

Umaru said the EFCC had written him severally and it is in the public domain confirming that he has no case to answer.

Judgement on the substantive suit is ongoing……