The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has dragged the
Federal Government headed by President Buhari before the Court of
Appeal, challenging his suspension.
The appeal was filed on Monday by his lawyers: Wole Olanipekun (SAN),
Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Kanu Agabi (SAN) and James Onoja.
Onnoghen, who was suspended by President Buhari following an ex parte
order issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal last week, questioned the
powers of the CCT to do so.
The suspended CJN based his appeal on four grounds, adding that he was
not given a fair hearing by the CCT before the order to swear-in Justice
Tanko Muhammad was given.
The appeal read in part, “The chairman and a member of the Code of
Conduct Tribunal erred in law and violated the right of the appellant
(Onnoghen) to a fair hearing when they made the order ex parte that he
(Onnoghen) shall step aside as CJN and Chairman of the National
Judicial Council over allegations of contravening provisions of the Code
of Conduct and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation 2004
pending the determination of the motion on notice dated January 10,
2019.”
