The Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] on Tuesday reiterated its call on the Federal Government to withdraw the charges filed against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal [CCT].
NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, made the call on Tuesday in a statement ahead of the Wednesday’s proceedings at CCT.
Mr. Usoro called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to comply with due process by allowing the National Judicial Council [NJC] to come up with a verdict.
Usoro said, “Given these non-exhaustive considerations and facts, we press on the Executive arm of the FGN to please discontinue the Charge against the CJN when the matter comes up before the COT tomorrow, Wednesday, 13 February 2019.
“We respectfully urge full compliance with due process by FGN in this matter by allowing the NJ C process to take its course in respect of the two petitions against the CJN a step that has already, commendably, been embraced by FGN in respect of the EFCC petition.”
It could be recalled that the CCT chairman, Justice Umar Danladi had ordered Onnoghen to compulsorily attend before his objection to the case could be heard.
The CCT’s proceedings will also coincide with the NJC’s sitting which was adjourned till Wednesday to review a report of its pre-assessment committee on the petitions against Onnoghen and the acting CJN, Tanko Muhammad.
