CCT dismisses Onnoghen’s application challenging its jurisdiction

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) says it has jurisdiction to try Walter Onnoghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Danladi Umar, CCT chairman, gave the ruling on Thursday, saying Onnoghen is not being charged as a judicial officer but a public officer.

He also refused to recuse himself from the case.

“Without the chairman there is no CCT,” he ruled.

The suspended CJN had earlier filed two applications to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

Onnoghen is standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.

While delivering his ruling, Umar overruled a verdict of the tribunal to which Onnoghen’s lawyers cited as a defence.

The suspended CJN’s lawyers had argued that the case of Onnoghen ought to be dismissed by Sylvester Uguwta, a supreme court justice, who was standing trial for alleged false assets declaration.

But Umar said the case was dismissed because it was not first referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for action.

He buttressed the point that the tribunal had jurisdiction to try the embattled justice.

“The tribunal will not fail to overrule itself when a decision was taken on the wrong principle. It hereby overrules itself,” he said.

The CCT chairman also dismissed the claim by the defence that he is biased against Onnoghen.

“It is hereby ordered that the chairman is comptenet [to hear thr case].Without the chairman there is no CCT,” he ruled.

“Because the tribunal is under the presidency, does not mean that it will follow the will and caprices of the presidency.”