Onnoghen absent again at CCT

Justice Walter Onnoghen

Nigeria’s chief justice Walter Onnoghen was absent Tuesday at a tribunal where he is facing allegations of violating a code of conduct mandating public officers to declare their assets when they take.

Onnoghen was absent when his case was first brought before the Umar-Danladi-led tribunal last week.

His lead counsel Wole Olanipeku (SAN) argued that the chief justice could not have appeared before the tribunal since he has not been served the necessary papers.

The tribunal then ordered that the papers be served on Onnoghen before today.

The Nigerian government is suing the CJN for “refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.”

“He is also being accused of maintaining domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.”