Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen was absent from court in the resumed hearing in the Code of Conduct Tribunal case of alleged false asset declaration against him.
His absence was an opportunity for the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to demand that he steps down as the CJN as the case progresses.
The Coalition of opposition Political Parties (CUPP) had last week raised the alarm that Buhari would want to force Onnoghen out of office today, Tuesday.
Onnoghen is facing six charges of alleged false declaration of assets. He was first due for arraignment on January 14, but he missed appearance personally.
Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar had issued Onnoghen another summon after the CJN”s lawyers said the first summons were not properly served.
Umar fixed January 22 for Onnoghen to appear and take plea, but he was not in court as of 10:21 a.m. when the tribunal opened.
Aliu Umar, the Nigerian government prosecutor said on Tuesday that the government wants the judge out of office.
Umar, in his opening address at the resumed hearing in the matter, said Onnoghen had been written, and wondered whether he had
Today’s hearing is the second since the matter first opened on January 14.
The Buhari administration accuses the CJN of failing to declare bank accounts despite being a Supreme Court judge since 2005, an offence that contracts the Code of Conduct Act and could see draw penalties if established.
Wole Olanipekun, a senior lawyer leading a team of over 50 defence counsels for Onnoghen, said the judge was absent because of the cases that were instituted against the tribunal’s proceeding.
A federal high court ruled last week that Onnoghen’s trial be suspended, but government supporters have argued that the ruling was an anomaly because the tribunal has parallel powers as federal high courts.
They argued that only the Court of Appeal could issue rulings that would be binding on the tribunal.
The Court of Appeal fixed January 24 for hearing on the matter.