Onnoghen leaves CCT as tribunal shifts judgement by three hours

Walter Onnonghen, suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), is currently out of the premises of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja.

Onnoghen had arrived the tribunal to know his fate in the false assets declaration charges the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) filed against him.

At its last sitting on Monday, Danladi Umar, chairman of the CCT, had fixed 9am on April 18 for judgement but on Thursday, registrar of the tribunal announced that proceedings would commence by 12 mid-day.

The judge, who had not stepped out of Land Cruiser SUV when he learnt of the postponement, left the tribunal around 9am, leaving behind some of his aides and lawyers.

In less than an hour, Onnoghen will know his fate in the trial which made him resign one year before his retirement date.

TheCable had reported how he tendered his resignation on April 4.

He resigned one day after the National Judicial Council recommended him for compulsory retirement after deliberating on a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The commission had accused him of financial impropriety, infidelity to the constitution and other economic and financial crimes related laws but Onnoghen denied all the allegations.