BREAKING: CCT orders Onnoghen to defend charges

Justice Walter Onnoghen

Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has rejected the no-case submission filed by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, in a ruling on Friday, ordered Onnoghen to enter a defence against the six-count charge of non-declaration of assets brought against him by Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Umar said Onnoghen’s confessional statement where he admitted omitting to declare the five domiciliary accounts he has been operating in Standard Chartered Bank since 20009, was enough evidence to warrant him to enter his defence.

The CCT chairman then adjourned till Monday for the defendant to open his defence, a date which lead defence lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, protested was too short to adequately prepare for defence.

Awomolo was still protesting when Umar walked out of the court room.