Conduct Tribunal adjourns Onnoghen’s trial indefinitely

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), on Monday, adjourned the trial of Justice Walter Onnoghen, suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) indefinitely, pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal against the decision of the tribunal.
The tribunal had on January 14 ruled that it had original jurisdiction to try the defendant.
Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman of the tribunal, said it was obligatory for the tribunal to respect the “order of stay’’ made by the superior court.
“Following the January 24 order made by the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings here, the trial is adjourned sine die’’, Umar said.
The tribunal had earlier ignored three restraining orders from the Federal High Court, FCT High Court and the National Industrial Court.
The orders were given sequel to pending suits that prayed the courts to bar the President, Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chairman of CCT, Chairman of CCB from taking steps against Onnoghen.
The plaintiffs of those suits had urged the courts for temporary restraining orders to first allow their actions to be determined.
The suspended CJN is standing trial at the tribunal on allegations of non-assets declaration.
He had, however, approached the Court of Appeal urging it to bar the tribunal from trying him pending the determination of his appeal against the tribunal to try him.
Justice Abdul Aboki led three-man panel of the appellate court, which on January 24 ordered stay of proceedings at the tribunal pending the determination of an appeal filed by the embattled CJN.
At the resume session, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), Counsel to Onnoghen, informed the tribunal on the decision of the appellate court and prayed that tribunal to adjourn all proceedings in line with the order of the Court of Appeal.
Mr Musa Ibrahim, who held the brief of Malam Umar Aliyu (SAN), Counsel to Federal Government did not raise objection to Agabi’s oral application.
The Court of Appeal had fixed January 30, to rule on the interlocutory appeal.