The CCT's role in Onnoghen’s suspension

CCT order relied on for Onnoghen’s suspension

By Clement A. Oloyede

The Code of Conduct Tribunal CCT (CCT) on Wednesday granted an ex-parte application directing the removal of Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen.

In the tribunal orders seen by our reporter, the president was directed to appoint the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria to avoid vacuum.

The order read in parts, “It is hereby ordered as follows: That the defendant/respondent shall step aside as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council over allegation of Contravening the provisions of the code of Conducts and Tribunal Act CAP C15 Laws of the Federation 2004 pending the determination of the Motion on notice dated 10th January 2019.

“That the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall take all necessary measure to swear in the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council in order to prevent a vacuum in the judicial arm of government pending the determination of the motion on notice.

“This matter is hereby adjourned to the 28 Day of January 2019 for Hearing.

“Issued at Abuja under the Hand and Seal of the Honorable Chairman and Member of this Honourable Tribunal this 23th Day of January 2019 By Hon Danladi Y. Umar, Hon. Chairman, and Mrs. Julie A. Anabor Hon Member II.”

SEE ALSO: WHY I REMOVED ONNOGHEN – BUHARI

Daily Trust gathered that the Hon Member I of the tribunal, William Atedze Agwadza refused the application.

The tribunal had held at its last sitting on January 22 that it could not hear the motion on notice for the suspension of the Justice Onnoghen because it first had to decide the application challenging its jurisdiction.

The tribunal had then adjourned proceedings to January 28 for the hearing of the application challenging its jurisdiction.

However, the federal government approached the tribunal with the motion on Wednesday, seeking for an interim order directing that Justice Onnoghen be removed pending determination of the case against him