Onnoghen’s appeal challenging removal as CJN adjourned to November 4

The court of appeal in Abuja has further adjourned the suit filed by Walter Onnoghen, former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), challenging his removal from office to November 4.

At the last adjourned date, Tijjani Gazali, counsel representing the attorney-general of the federation, had told the court that the federal government is seeking to explore an out-of-court settlement with Onnoghen.

At the resumed court session on Thursday, Ogwu  Onoja, counsel to the appellant, informed a three-member panel of the court that parties in the suit have intensified efforts to reach an “amicable settlement” of all issues in the dispute.

Onoja told the court that the parties had an engagement up until Wednesday and expressed optimism that the discussion would be successful.

Consequently, he prayed the court for a one-month adjournment to enable parties to resolve.

Gazali, federal government counsel, confirmed the submission of Onoja and requested that the matter be shifted for a possible amicable settlement.

“My Lords, I wish to humbly confirm the information. It is our position to settle the matter out of court,” he said.

J. O. Oyewole, who presided over the proceedings, directed parties to file terms of settlement for adoption when eventually agreed upon.

Oyewole held that the settlement terms must be documented and filed before the adjourned date for the court to adopt as its judgement.

He then adjourned until November 4 as the return date for the two parties.

BACKGROUND

In April 2019, a three-member panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) led by Danladi Umar, chairman of the tribunal at the time, convicted Onnoghen on six counts bordering on false assets declaration and ordered that he be removed from office.

In the appeal marked CA/ABJ/375 & 376 & 377/2019, Onnoghen is praying the court to void and set aside the CCT’s judgment delivered against him on April 18, 2019, on various grounds.

The former CJN argued that the tribunal chairman was biased and denied him fair hearing.

Listing some of the particulars of error in the CCT’s verdict, Onnoghen argued that he was a judicial officer at the time the charge was filed against him on January 11, 2019, and should not have been subjected to the jurisdiction of the lower tribunal.

He added that only the National Judicial Council (NJC) had the power to discipline him for misconduct and not the lower tribunal.