Onnoghen absent as CCT begins sitting with over 47 SANs in attendance | Photos

The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen was absent when Danladi Umar, chairman of the CCT, convened the session at 10am this morning, TOPNAIJA.NG reports.

The tribunal had summoned Onnoghen following a petition submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by a civil society group identified as the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI).

The CJN was accused of false declaration of assets and a six-count charge was filed against him.

Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Onnoghen, challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter. He said Onnoghen had not been indicted by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body responsible for probing allegations levelled against serving judges.

He said the CJN was not given enough time to prepare for his arraignment before he was summoned by the tribunal. Over 47 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs) are at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for the trial of Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria.

The federal government had filed a six-count charge of false asset declaration against Onnoghen while the tribunal summoned him to appear before it.

Below are some photos from the court early this morning: