CCT Orders Onnoghen To Enter Defence As It Dismisses No Case Submission

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, on Friday ordered the suspended Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onneghen to enter his defence as the tribunal dismissed the “No Case Submission” entered by the defence.

While delivering his ruling, Mr. Umar ruled that the Tribunal is not bound by technicalities but the interest of justice, adding that the tribunal relied on the substance of the charge.

Umar also said that the standard operational procedures relied upon by Justice Onneghen’s counsel was full of contradictions, adding that as a result of the observed contradictions, the SOP was not adopted by the Tribunal.

He said; “The SOP was authored for personal interest by past Board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.”

Umar further said that the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses and the exhibit, which was the statement that admitted that Justice Onnoghen forgot to update his asset declaration form is enough to call upon him to enter his defence.

The Tribunal Chairman accordingly ordered Justice Walter Onnoghen to enter his defence to clear his name in the case before the Tribunal.