Chidi Samuel|
Walter Onnoghen, the embattled chief justice of Nigeria has filed a suit against the federal government over his suspension last Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari on the orders of the code of conduct tribunal.
In the suit was filed by Wole Olanipekun, Adegboyega Awomolo, Kanu Agabi, and James Onoja — his lawyers, Onnoghen argued that the chairman of the CCT and a member Mrs. Julie Anabor erred in law and violated the Constitution when they ordered his suspension.
The suspended CJN equally claimed that they violated his right to a fair hearing by not giving him an opportunity for fair hearing.
He, therefore, asked the court to set aside the ruling of the CCT asking him to step aside as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and chairman of the NJC.
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.”
Justice Onnoghen who is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was suspended on Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was replaced by Justice Tanko Muhammad but on Tuesday the National Judicial Council after a meeting in Abuja queried both Justices of the supreme court.
They were given seven days to respond to the queries by the NJC.