Abuja high court stops trial of chief justice of Nigeria until pending legal cases are heard

NIGERIA'S chief judge Justice Walter Onnoghen has been given a reprieve in his ongoing battle with the federal government after an Abuja high court ordered prosecutors to suspend all action against him until the determination of several pending suits on the matter.

 

Over the last few days, Justice Onnoghen has been involved in intense political jockeying with the government that involved him being charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Late last week, Justice Onnoghen was reportedly suspended from office over claims that he falsely declared his assets.

 

He was subsequently asked to appear before the CCT this morning but shunned the invitation, prompting the government to postpone his arraignment until next week Tuesday when he will face a six-count charge before a three man panel. Prosecutors also decided that the summons would be served on him personally to enable Justice Onnoghen appear before the tribunal headed by CCT chairman Justice Danladi Umar.

 

Since the crisis broke, the Nigerian judiciary has been up in arms saying the action constitutes an attack against the judiciary, with the government's political opponents saying it is part of a plot to rig next month's elections. Niger Delta militants have also threatened to blow up oil installations, saying the attempts to remove the Cross River-born Justice Onnoghen is an attack on the south-south geo-political zone.

 

Earlier today, Justice Onnoghen was represented by 46 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (San), led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, who stood against the government team, whose only San was the lead prosecutor Aliyu Umar. At the hearing, Justice Umar had demanded to know why the chief justice was not in court and if he was served with the charge before adjourning the matter until next week Tuesday.

 

However, Justice Onnoghen is challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him and has filed a motion dated January 14 to that effect. Just after the CCT hearing ended, an Abuja federal high court stopped the federal government’s plan to arraign Justice Onnoghen, before the CCT, ruling that all action should be suspended until after January 17.

 

Ruling on two separate ex-parte applications Justice NE  Maha, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo till January 17. He ruled in the two different suits that the defendants should be served with all the papers filed and they should appear in court at the next hearing.

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