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Tag: Justice Walter Onnoghen

  • Why CJN should clear his name, by lawyer

    An Aba lawyer, Victor C. Nwaugo, has urged Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen to clear his name.

    He said the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) should be “bold” enough to face the charge as anything to the contrary would create the wrong impression about him.

    Nwaugo recalled that allegations of misconduct were not new in the Supreme Court even if not proven.

    He said in a statement: “Hon Justice Uwaifo in his valedictory party first drew the nation’s attention to the rot at the Supreme Court. He accused the CJN then of awarding contracts to his wives.

    “In fact, Justice Uwais was accused of awarding contract to his second wife, then a lawyer.

    “The accusation was made by a group known as Derivative Front believed to be based in Southsouth of Nigeria.

    “Exactly on 21st June 2005, Mr Ephraim Duru had appeared before the Supreme Court in Appeal No. SC/ 161/2001, The Honda Place Vs. Globe Motors to argue his application for transfer of motion then pending before the Supreme Court from the Panel chaired by Justice Uwais to another on grounds of likelihood of bias based on corruption.

    “Uwais was accused of ordering for supply of several pieces of Honda vehicles from Honda Place even when a dispute of who between Honda Place and Globe Motors had the sole distributorship right of Honda vehicles in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Court hears CJN’s appeal against trial Thursday

    “The allegation also carried the fact that certain pieces of Honda vehicles were supplied to the Supreme Court by Honda Place.

    “As a result, Ephraim Duru was hounded by very many senior Advocates of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) threatened to prosecute him and take him before Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

    “It took the courage of four Aba lawyers: Ukpai Ukairo, O.O.Anyadikw, Victor C. Nwaugo and Age Nwachukwu to stand to the defence of Duru both in court and NBA NEC meeting in Aba.

    “There was a write-up tagged Before Ephraim Duru is crucified, which was well circulated before NEC members who came for meeting in Aba wherein the role of Duru, in that case, was well explained.

    “Lord Chancellor of England from where we borrowed our system, Lord Francis Bacon was convicted of corruption; Lord Macclesfield was reputed for his prolific demands for pecuniary aggrandizement. Both suffered the consequences of their actions.

    “Our own Justice Onnoghen is facing a charge of breach of Code of Conduct as a public officer and all you hear some lawyers raise is ‘PDP this way’, ‘APC that way’, ‘Son of Niger Delta’, etc.

    “Some quote irrelevant case of Nganjiwa vs. FRN without querying Onnoghen’s innocence in the accusation.

    “Justice Onnoghen has in the case of Ahmed vs. Ahmed 2014, Vol 231 of LRCN stated the position of the law that any charge bordering on breach of Code of Conduct by a public officer under schedule 5 is exclusively triable by Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    “So, the actions we take today or the things we say today may hunt us tomorrow. For me, Hon Justice Onnoghen: how do you plead – guilty or not guilty?

    “Only bold step towards this direction will clear your name. Any other thing, be it injunction or directives of four Niger Delta governors will end up giving you a permanent tag of a corrupt man in our minds.”

  • Breaking: FG orders NFIU to freeze Onnoghen’s five accounts

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has requested the Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligent Unit (NFIU) to freeze five bank accounts linked to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), in the charge it filed against the CJN before the Code of Conduct tribunal (CCT) for which he was to be arraigned on January 14, accused the Onnghen of failing to declare the accounts.

    In letter, written on the official letterhead paper of the AGF, but signed by Abiodun Aikomo, dated January 14, 2019 and received same date at the office of the Director of NFIU, AGF directed that the accounts be frozen pending the conclusion of the charge before the CCT.

    The letter has as its heading: “Re: Request for freezing of bank accounts subject to investigation and prosecution pursuant to Presidential Executive Order No: 6 of5th July 2018 on the Preservation of Assets Connected with Corruption.”

    Read Also: Buhari consoles Kenyans over terrorist attack

    The letter read in part, “I am directed by Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to request that you, pursuant to Executive Order 6 of 2018, forthwith restrict normal banking operations on certain accounts belonging to Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT/ABJ/1/19 – Federal Republic of Nigeria v Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel.

    “These accounts are: Account number 5001062683 (euro) Standard Chartered Bank; 5001062683 (pounds); 0001062650 (dollar); 0010626667 (naira), and 5001062683 (naira).”

  • Breaking: We did not raid Onnoghen’s residence – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has described as “untrue and evil”, reports in some quarters that its personnel had invaded the Abuja residence of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Spokesman of the commission Tony Orilade tod the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday that the fake news “ is being spread by evil men and women to get evil results.”

    NAN reports that this may be connected to the halting of Onnoghen’s trial by the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday.

    Read Also: We’ll not tolerate vote-buying, says EFCC

    The court had asked the Federal Government to put on hold plans to arraign Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The Federal Government had, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), filed six counts of non-declaration of assets charges against Onnoghen.

    However, ruling on two separate ex parte applications, Justice N.E Maha, ordered parties to maintain status quo until Jan. 17.

  • APC desperate to remove CJN over polls, PDP alleges

    The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being desperate to illegally remove the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen ahead of the 2019 elections.

    In a statement Monday by the spokesman for the PDP campaign organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it’s despicable that rather than retracing their steps, the President and the APC were attempting to blackmail Nigerians who have raised a voice against the arraignment of the CJN before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    The statement said, “The Buhari Presidency and APC in turning around to fight Nigerians have further exposed their desperation to replace Justice Onnoghen with a pliable CJN, who will execute their plots to use the courts to detain opposition leaders as well as vocal members of the Civil Society during the elections.

    “It is now crystal clear to all Nigerians that apart from failing woefully in all its promises, the APC and its presidential candidate, President Buhari, are beginning to manifest their autocratic attributes.

    Read Also: No division in PDP, says Ekweremadu

    “Furthermore, the Buhari Presidency is not only corrupt but has become an asylum for corrupt people. The PPCO therefore challenges the APC and the Buhari Presidency to name one APC member that has been investigated, prosecuted or arraigned before any court of competent jurisdiction in the last three and half years in spite of their humongous corruption.

    “If for anything, President Muhammadu Buhari has encouraged corruption in our nation more than any President that had the privilege of governing our country, Nigeria.

    “It is important to restate that the Buhari Presidency is now a refugee camp for known and well advertised faces of corruption. From the factional National Chairman of the APC, the co-chairman of the Buhari campaign Organization, the Director General of the Buhari Campaign, the zonal directors and the recent entrants from Bauchi and Gombe states, all leaders of the APC and Buhari campaign structure are all candidates of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “We therefore charge Nigerians not to be deterred by the attacks by the Buhari Presidency, which has since become desperate and anti-people following its rejection by Nigerians because of its corruption, incompetence and insensitivity to the plights of our citizens”.

  • Heavy protest rocks Lagos over suspension of Onnoghen

    Protesters on Monday paralyzed commercial activities in Lagos State in support of President Muhammdu Buhari’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
    The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, declared that Onnoghen lacks moral standing to remain in office as CJN.
    Comrade Festus Akintola, Convener of the protest, said Justice  must take its full course to serve as a deterrent to others that it is no longer business as usual.
    He said, “We have all gathered here to express our disgust with the actions of some segment of the country that have viewed the action of the president in placing the Chief Justice of Nigeria on suspension for false declaration of assets in contravention of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act for public office holders in the country.
    “Nigeria is not a country where anyone should be viewed as above the law as the law is no respecter of persons. And what an irony  that the chief law officer of the country would violate the law and would still want to evade justice. If that should ever happen, then Nigeria is no longer a country but a banana republic.
    “We stand in absolute solidarity with our dear and amiable president who has risen in defense of the country by suspending the Chief Justice of the country and thereby sending a strong message to all that no matter how highly placed, once you violate the law, there would be consequences.
    “We are also at a loss as to what case or position some people to want to canvass in a situation as glaring as this. Are they trying to deny the fact that the Chief Justice of Nigeria did not commit any offense? Are they trying to say that the president didn’t do the right thing by asking the Chief Justice to proceed on suspension pending the determination of the suit before the Code of Conduct Tribunal?
    “We wish to state that it amounts to moral bankruptcy for the Chief Justice to cite “forgetfulness” as the reason for not declaring a part of his estate. And we now wonder how someone of such high standing would think he can take over 180 million Nigerians for a ride.
    “And quite ironically some ethnic and religious champions have taken turns to give the actions of the president all manners of ethnic and religious coloration at the detriment of the fact of the matter.
    “But they shall be all put to shame because the majority of Nigerians are with the president and supports wholeheartedly the action of the president in the quest to rid the judiciary of corrupt elements such as the suspended Chief Justice.
    “In Nigeria today, under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, we have indeed seen how and what it takes to fight the cancerous corruption. That is what President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed in the bold action of his.
    “We are all gathered here despite our busy schedules to show solidarity to the man of the people. The man who has the interest of the country at heart. The man who has dared the path where no one dares venture. The man that has an unshaken belief in the unity of Nigeria. The man who says a yes and it is a yes. A man who would not dip his hands in government coffers and a man who has shown us what it takes to have integrity in a country like ours.
    “The case of the Chief Justice of Nigeria presents us with one of such instances in which our president has risen in defense of the country.
    “And it takes more than a commitment and belief in the national development agenda for such actions to protect the people from dubious and corrupt minded individuals such as the suspended Chief Justice Walter Onnoghnen.
    “We are angry at the audacity if Justice Walter Onnoghnen to insult our intelligence as a people by wanting to whip up ethnic and religious sentiments through paid political jobbers.
    “If Justice Walter Onnoghen has any atom of morals as the Chief Justice of the country, the rational thing for him to have done was to honorably resign from office to save the judicial arm of the country the shame and denigration that has it brought upon us.
    “So bad is this case that Nigeria has become a laughing stock among countries. And the ethnic champions do not see anything wrong with it the shame Justice Walter Onnoghen has brought upon our country.
    “We support President Muhammadu Buhari wholeheartedly in the fight against corruption in the judiciary. We are consequently of the firm opinion that if the judiciary is not sanitized, then we might be in for considerable trouble.”

  • Withdraw charges against CJN, Ekweremadu urges FG

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Monday urged the Federal Government to immediately withdraw the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and also apologise to the nation’s judiciary.

    In a series of posts on his social media handles, @iamekweremadu, in the early hours of Monday, Ekweremadu, described the charges as extremely dangerous for the nation’s democracy.

    He emphasised “the need to eschew every form of intimidation against other arms of government, especially their leadership, to enable them play their constitutional roles in the overall interest of the nation.”

    The Deputy Senate President noted that the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary remained intact despite obvious constraints.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: Ohanaeze to FG, stop heating the Polity

    He said: “I consider the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as ill-advised and dangerous, especially after similar attempts at the leadership of the National Assembly failed.

    “This is extremely dangerous for democracy and can only divide the country further as well as alienate us as country very low in upholding the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

    “I advise the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately withdraw the charges and apologise to the judiciary. We certainly can’t travel this road”.

  • Onnoghen: Ohanaeze to FG, stop heating the Polity

    The President General of apex Igbo organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has warned the Federal Government that it is heating up the polity by the needless action it is taking against the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The President General said that legal opinion did not support the action and therefore should not have been contemplated at all.

    In a signed statement, Chief Nwodo said Ohaneze received, with shock and disappointment, the decision of the Federal government of Nigeria, acting through the Code of Conduct Bureau to prosecute the Chief Justice Of Nigeria.

    The President General noted that Legal opinion abounds that the action is premature and ill-conceived following an extant Court Of Appeal decision which interprets the procedure for prosecuting judicial officers.

    “This procedure has not been followed. The fact that the National Judicial Council has been ignored is not just illegal but suggests deliberate court shopping and a predetermined objective.

    Secondly, the fact that one of the issues being canvassed by the CCB before the CCT is for an order of the CCT for the Chief Justice of Nigeria to step aside from his exalted office pending the conclusion of the trial contrary to the procedure for his removal from office as provided by the Nigerian constitution exposes the aim of the prosecution.”

    Nwodo said that a perusal of some of the depositions in the charge sheet also shows a completely distorted conception of the regulations pertaining to the declaration of assets.

    Read Also: Judge halts FG’s planned trial of CJN

    “Assets acquired after assumption of office are declared at the end of a public official’s tenure in order to present a comparison with assets declared on assumption of office.

    Said Nwodo:”The Federal government is heating up the polity. Not long ago we were entertained with all sorts of interpretations of the Vice President’s powers while the President is on leave. The GMD of the NNPC was accused of violating laws pertaining to the award of contracts. Because he comes from a protected ethnic group and class, no investigation was conducted.

    Fulani herdsman killed 110 natives of Nimbo, in Enugu State. Police investigations led to the arrest of some of the herdsman with their telephone pictures of the carnage but not one has been prosecuted.

    “The same carnage took place in Benue State. Pictures of the murderers wearing the uniform of the choir members of a Catholic church where they murdered their priests and members of their congregation were all over the social media. No one was arrested or prosecuted.

    “Their sponsors, Miyetti Allah, addressed a press conference recently extolling their ethnic agenda and making decisive and inciting statements. Not one of them was arrested. The insensitiveness of the Federal government to respect for our constitution. It’s patronage of double standards in the enforcement of the law is sickening and abhorrent. If these developments are taken together with the obvious rigging regulations approved by INEC, we fear that our country is about to be thrown into a needless political instability.“

  • Protest breaks out in London as Nigerians ask UK to support Buhari

     

    While a small chunk of Nigerians are yet to come to terms with President Muhammadu Buhari’s courageous suspension of embattled Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, their counterparts in the diaspora have lauded the move.

    In the United Kingdom, in particular, Nigerians welcomed the removal of the judicial chief as it is a clear deviation from the several years of impunity.

    It is for this reason, Nigerians under the auspices of Arise For A New Nigeria, stormed the streets of London, exactly No10 Downing street, close to the Prime Minister’s Office, to show solidarity with their country’s leader.

    In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Theresa May, the group’s President Andrew Kobani, speaking on behalf of his countrymen, urged Britain to support the anti-corruption fight of Mr Buhari, especially concerning Mr Onnoghen’s removal.

     

    Full press statement below.

    The Rt. Honourable Theresa May, Prime Minister
    Office of the Prime Minister
    10 Downing Street
    London SW1A 2AA
    Madam Prime Minister,

    SOLICITING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE MUHAMMADU BUHARI ADMINISTRATION IN THE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION

    Madam Prime Minister, may wish to note that Nigeria is experiencing a turbulent period in the fight against corruption as initiated by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    They are sufficing to note that since 2015, the present administration has initiated measures aimed at reducing corrupt practices in the conduct of government business at all tiers of governance. This effort has yielded positive results to the admiration of the bulk of Nigerians and the consternation of a select few that have benefited from the rot in the system.

    Undeterred, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has carried on with enthusiasm and a determination to see that structural defects are fixed to curb the rot in the system for the betterment of Nigeria as a country.

    Madam Prime Minister may also wish to note that the bane of underdevelopment in Nigeria is as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of previous governments in the fight against corruption that has resulted in the wanton disregard for accountability and transparency in the conduct of government businesses and by extension governance in Nigeria.

    Since 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took over the affairs of the state in Nigeria, Nigeria has recorded tremendous progress in governance evident in the dividends of democracy trickling down the ladder.

    Madam Prime Minister however, the present administration has encountered numerous challenges from individuals and organisations that have subverted the system through nefarious ways and means all in the quest to portray the Muhammadu Buhari administration in poor light in an attempt to pitch the populace against the government to fulfil their personal agenda of causing unrest and disaffection in the country.

    The recent case of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen who violated the law in declaring his assets as stipulated by the law has further emphasized the level of rot in the system.

    A particular segment of the Nigerian society has cried wolf where none exist and painted a picture of political persecution, forgetting that Nigeria was on the brinks of imminent collapse due the activities of a few that have benefitted from the rot in the system.

    Madam Prime Minister, we are through this medium soliciting for assistance from the United Kingdom in the war against corruption in Nigeria as initiated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in recent times.

     

    Read Also: Boycott directive stalls Onnoghen’s case in Industrial Court

     

    A vivid example can be seen in the instance where the Chief Judicial Official in Nigeria, either by omission or commission failed to declare a part of his assets running into millions of dollars.
    The Chief Justice of Nigeria as the number one judicial officer in the country for inexplicable reasons did not declare a part of his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau in Nigeria. The CJN cited “forgetfulness and mistake” as the reasons for the non-declaration.

    Madam Prime Minister, the non-declared items are bank accounts with balances that runs into millions of pounds sterling and dollars. This is too much to be right in our considered opinion. As the number one judicial officer in the country, it is wholly untenable for such an excuse, unless for deliberate reasons.

    This untoward display of acts inimical to the progress of Nigeria has necessitated the kind, and timely intervention of the Prime Minister and the British government is assisting Nigeria in the war against corruption. If, not, corruption will kill Nigeria at this rate. And that would not happen under the leadership of Madam Prime Minister.

    Madam Prime Minister,may be aware that political jobbers and ethnic champions have given the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria ethnic and religious actions, but in truth, it was a timely intervention aimed at saving the judicial arm of government in Nigeria further embarrassment as a result of the unethical conduct of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    This letter is an SOS, as well as a reminder to Madam Prime Minister, Theresa May and UK Secretary for African Affairs Mrs Harriett Baldwin that Nigeria would return to the brinks if steps, just like this are not taken to arrest the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into governance in Nigeria.

    It is our considered opinion that the United Kingdom as an ally of Nigeria cannot afford to watch as Nigeria goes to the brinks. It must render that assistance to the government of Nigeria that has made substantial inroads in the fight against corruption.

    I have the honour to be, Madam, Your humble and obedient servant

    CC: Mrs Harriett Baldwin
    UK Secretary for African Affairs

  • Onnoghen:  PDP, Atiku, Secondus slam Buhari

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its national chairman Prince Uche Secondus and presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have condemned moves by the Presidency to prosecute the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Media reports on Saturday indicated that Justice Onnoghen will on Monday, be arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for asset declaration infractions.

    But in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP accused the Buhari Presidency of plotting to destabilise and annex the Judiciary ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The party also alerted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a cabal at the Presidency were hounding Justice Onnoghen.

    The plot, according to the PDP, was to get the CJN removed so as to cause a constitutional crisis, instill fear in judicial officers and pave the way for the foisting of a pliable CJN that will do their bidding on electoral matters.

    The PDP said: “This is particularly following allegations that the APC seeks a new CJN that will aid its rigging schemes as well as execute the plot to use the court to detain and put opposition members and outspoken members of Civil Society Organizations out of circulation during the general elections.

    READ ALSO:Breaking: FG charges CJN with non-declaration of asset

    “This development is a clear recipe for anarchy and a huge crisis that is capable of fracturing our justice system and derail our democracy as it portends a prelude to a total clamp down on institutions of democracy and rule of law in our country.

    “The PDP therefore urges all Nigerians, the United Nations and all international bodies to unite in the defence of our democracy, especially at this very critical time in our political development”.

    Secondus accused the ruling party of attempts to destroy the nation’s judiciary, barely 30 days to the general election, adding it’s a desperate move to manipulate and thwart the will of Nigerians.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd of party supporters at a rally in Jos, Plateau State on Saturday, Secondus said the APC is afraid of an independent judiciary because of its agenda to rig the elections.

    The party chair stated Nigerians were ready and determined to throw the APC out of power, adding that no amount of threats and harassment will deter the people from effecting what he called inevitable change.

    Atiku warned the President and his party against throwing the country into an avoidable crisis over their desperation to sack Justice Onnoghen.

    In a statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the PDP presidential candidate said the principle of separation of powers must be respected.

    Atiku described the plot to sack the CJN as a preemptive move against the Bench, in the face of imminent defeat and knowing the role that the judiciary plays in the final outcome of elections.

    The statement reads: “We have just been made aware of the plot by President Buhari and the APC to sack Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen using flimsy assets declaration issues as a pretext.

    “We are aware that there are plans to arraign Justice Onnoghen before the Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar led- Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday, January, 14, 2019.

    “The  charge against Onnoghen, we understand has already been filed and served on him last Friday at his official residence in Abuja preparatory to his appearance at the Tribunal.

    ”But we warn that despite the clandestine meetings in the highest echelon of the APC and also involving some top officials of the federal government which include the Code of Conduct Tribunal, neither Buhari nor the APC can re-write the Nigerian Constitution just because of its impending defeat at the February 16, presidential election.

    “Heavens did not fall when PDP lost to the APC in 2015.  And heavens will not fall now that the APC is sure to lose to the PDP, seeing that the APC’s plan to rig in the forthcoming elections will not pull through”.

    Atiku identified M. Dennis Aghanya who authored the petition against the CJN as the National Publicity Secretary of President Buhari’s defunct political party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    Aghanya filed the petition in his capacity as the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI).

    Atiku promised President Buhari and the APC an epic constitutional battle, the consequences of which can only be imagined should they succeed in the plot to remove the CJN

    He called on Nigerians to resist the current move to silence the judiciary, saying Nigeria’s democracy and not the judiciary is on trial.

     

     

     

     

  • Breaking: FG charges CJN with non-declaration of asset

    The Federal Government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has charged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen with non-declaration of assets.
    In a six-count charge filed earlier this week by officials of the CCB at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja, Onnoghen was accused of failing to declare some assets allegedly traced to him, as required by law.
    CCT’s spokesman, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, who confirmed the existence of the charge, said the tribunal has scheduled January 14 for arraignment.
    Al-Hassan said the fixing of the date of arraignment was informed by an application filed on January 11 this year, by the CCB, seeking that the case be set down for hearing.
    He said a copy of the charge has been served on the CJN as required. He was silent on when the silent on when service was effected.
    Al-Hassan said, in a statement: “The Code of Conduct Tribunal has scheduled Monday, 14th of January for the commencement of trial in the charge the against current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justce Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel for alleged non declaration of asset.
    “This was consequent upon an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday (January 11) for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six count charges. However, service of summons has been effected on the dependant.
    “The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated 11th January, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing six counts charges, all bordering on non-declaration of asset.
    “The three-man panel, led by Justice Danladi Y. Umar, will commence the trial on Monday, 14th January, 2019 at the CCT courtroom, situated at the headquarters, along Jabi Dakibiyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at about 10:00am.”