CCT rejects Onnoghen’s motion of no case submission

• Orders suspended CJN to enter his defence

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has dismissed the motion of no case submission filed by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar SAN, delivering judgment on the resumption of the Tribunal at 1.30pm after a short break from the morning proceedings, held that the tribunal is not bound by technicalities but the interest of justice, stating that the court relies on the substance of the charge.

Danladi emphasized  that the standard operational procedures that was relied upon by the defence Counsel is full of contradictions, declaring that due to the observed contradictions, the SOP is not adopted presently because it was authored for personal interest by the past board members of the Bureau.

The tribunal held that the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses and the exhibit which is a statement admitting that Justice Onnoghen forget to update his asset declaration form is enough to call the defendant to enter his defence to clear his name

Code of Conduct Tribunal, therefore, ordered Justice Walter Onnoghen to enter his defence to clear his name.