There was palpable tention  today Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, and Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and lawyer to the suspended Justice Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria, CJN,  clashed over request for adjournment by the defendant.

Awomolo, who is representing Onnoghen, who failed to appear before the tribunal for the third time,  urged the tribunal to temporarily suspend the trial since the National Judicial Council, NJC, is already adjudicating the case.

“I humbly pray your Lordships to tarry for awhile so that the defendant will not suffer double jeopardy. It is in the interest of justice to also allow the NJC to take a decision before proceeding with the case. I believe that the integrity of this tribunal will be further enhanced if this application is granted”, Awolowo added.

Aliyu Umar, prosecution counsel, did not object to the request for adjournment request although he objected to the “consistent absence” of Onnoghen at the tribunal. Umar, who suggested that the matter should be adjourned till Thursday.

He warned that the federal government would not hesitate to wield its powers and apply for an arrest warrant, should Justice Onnoghen fail to appear on that date.  “If he fails to appear on that day, we will be forced to apply for a bench warrant”, Umar submitted.

At this juncture, the chairman of the tribunal, insisted on proceeding with the trial by allowing the parties to argue the preliminary objection the suspended CJN filed to challenge jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

He also accused Onnoghen’s lawyer of deliberately employing delay tactics in a bid to frustrate thetrial.

Angered by the chairman’s statement, Awomolo reminded him that he is not a small boy at the Bar, insisting that while it was imperative for lawyers to give respect to the Bench, judges also ought to respect themselves too.

“I have spent over 25 years in Bar, and will not stand and allow anyone to disrespect me in front of junior lawyers. I take serious exception to that”, Awomolo thundered.

Replying, the chairman of the tribunal said: “My position is that you have to move your application today, if you don’t, I will ask the prosecution to move it’s own application for interlocutory injunction against the defendant”, the CCT boss stated.

To douse the tension, the prosecution counsel persuaded the tribunal to stand-down the matter for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, about 10 minutes after the stand-down, the panel reconvened and adjourned the case till next week Wednesday.  Sourced from the Vanguard

– Feb. 4, 2019 @ 12:00 GMT |