The Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered a stay of proceedings on the
trial of Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), at the Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT) until Jan. 30.
CJN Walter Onnoghen |
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the order is sequel to
an application by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) on behalf of the CJN.
Justice Abdul Aboki, leading two other justices of the appellate
court, held that the order was a temporary stay pending ruling on a
substantive motion brought by the CJN.
Olanipekun had approached the court praying for an order restraining
the Code of Conduct of Tribunal (CCT) from proceeding with Onnoghen’s
trial pending the determination of an application challenging the
jurisdiction of the tribunal.
NAN recalls that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had filed a
six-count charge against Onnoghen bothering on allegation of non-assets
declaration.
At the resumption of the trial on Jan.14, the arraignment of the
defendant was stalled as his team of counsel claimed he was not properly
served with the notice of summons.
However, on the following adjourned date, being Jan. 22, the tribunal
was prepared to commence the trial when it had established that the
defendant had been properly served with the notice of summons.
The process was stalled again with the absence of the defendant and a
motion brought by Olanipekun urging the tribunal to restrain itself
from continuing with the trial.
The defendant’s counsel had brought to the knowledge of the panel of
three subsisting restraining orders from High Courts in Abuja barring it
from continuing the trial.
Olanipekun had also insisted that the defendant’s motion challenging
the jurisdiction of the tribunal to handle the matter should be treated
first before any other proceeding could happen.
Malam Umar Aliyu (SAN), Counsel to the Federal Government, had
objected to such order of trial, adding that the defendant must take his
plea by being arraigned before any motion could be heard.
The prosecution had along the charge, filed an application urging the
tribunal to order the stepping aside of the CJN pending the
determination of the petition.
Chairman of the tribunal, Umar Danladi, went ahead to describe the
orders from three High Courts restraining the tribunal from continuing
with the trial as unconstitutional.
The Federal High Court, FCT High Court and the National Industrial
Court at various times in Abuja gave the restraining orders halting the
trial of the CJN pending the determination of suits bearing Danladi as
defendant.
Aggrieved by the decision of the tribunal, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo
(SAN) also Counsel to Onnoghen, filed an appeal challenging the decision
of the tribunal to continue with the trial.
Aboki held that the appellate court had no definitive order to make
in the present circumstance and therefore went ahead to fix Jan. 24 to
hear the merit of the appeal.
At the resumed session, Olanipekun had submitted that the tribunal
was wrong to have discountenanced the restraining orders made by the
three courts.
He said such action was capable of enthroning anarchy in the system if not checked.
Olanipekun, who cited many legal precedents to support his argument,
said it was incumbent on the tribunal to respect the order of court and
its practice direction.
He said the insistence of the tribunal to force the arraignment of
the CJN when a motion challenging its jurisdiction was unknown to law.
Olanipekun also informed the court that three suits had been filed
against the President Muhammadu Buhari, CCT, CCB, AGF and the chairman
of the tribunal on matters that related to the trial of the CJN at the
tribunal.
He said it was only just and fair for the tribunal to abide by the
restraining orders in the trial of the CJN pending the determination of
those suits.
Olanipekun therefore, prayed the court to stay proceedings at the
tribunal pending the determination of all pending motions the defendants
had brought before the appellate court.
Mr Oyekole Oso, Counsel for the Federal Government, raised objections on the issues canvassed by Olanipekun.
He said the orders made at three high courts were not binding on the
tribunal, adding that the tribunal also had co-ordinate powers as those
courts.
Oso said the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated the willingness to submit himself for trial.
According to him, the interlocutory applications before the appeal would not stop the prosecution of the CJN at the tribunal.
Oso said the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal must
be first heard at the tribunal, adding that the court should impress it
on the applicant to stand justice at the tribunal.
He prayed the court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit.
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