The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has scheduled ruling for 1.30pm on Friday in the no-case submission made by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Wanter Onnoghen.
CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar announced, after taking arguments from parties this morning, in relation to the no-case-submission, announced that ruling would be delivered this afternoon.
Onnoghen counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) had urged the tribunal to discharge and acquit his client.
Awomolo argued that the prosecution was unable to establish a prima facie case against the suspended CJN, saying that it’s not worth Onnoghen to defend himself.
The prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Umar, however, offered a counter-argument and urged the tribunal to reject Onnoghen’s no-case-submission and order him to enter defence.
All parties are awaiting Justice Umar’s verdict in a short while.
Meanwhile, Onnoghen has accused the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) of not following its set Standard Operation Procedures in instituting the case against him.
Onnoghen made the accusation during the resumed trial in Abuja.
Onnoghen is being tried for non-declaration of asset, in a six-count charge instituted by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The CCB accused Onnoghen of failing to declare his assets from June 2005, after he became a Justice of the Supreme Court till December 2016, two months after the Federal Government raided the homes of several judges, including those of the Supreme Court in October 2018.
According to the six-count charge brought against him, Mr Onnoghen is also accused of false declaration of his assets, following his alleged failure to include some domiciliary accounts managed by the Standard Chartered Bank.
The accounts, created in 2011 and used for the transfer of foreign currencies, were omitted in one of two forms filled on December 14, 2016, by Mr Onnoghen.
According to section 3(d) of the CCB act, the Bureau is empowered to receive complaints about cases of non-compliance with or breach of the act.
The section also empowers the CCB to refer such non-compliance to the CCT where the public officers accused of the alleged breach, will be tried according to the provisions of the act.
NAN reports that the prosecution team led by Aliu Umar, presented three witnesses before closing its case on March 21.