Barring any last-minute changes, the defence team of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, will, on Monday, ask the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself from the trial.

The application for recusal will be based on the fact that Umar has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for fraud and thus cannot be trusted to deliver a fair judgement.

A top source said, “The CCT chairman has been acting in a way that suggests that we may not get a fair hearing. He is facing charges by the EFCC, which means his character and his ability to deliver justice is in question.

“It is very possible that he is even being blackmailed by those who want Onnoghen gone. So, what we want is for him to step aside. We will make that application on Monday all things being equal.”

The approach is similar to what Senate President Bukola Saraki did during his trial in 2016. However, Umar did not step aside because the EFCC had yet to charge him at the time.

However, the EFCC had, last year, filed fresh charges of fraud against Umar.

The charges were prepared by Festus Keyamo (SAN), an EFCC prosecutor and now the spokesman for the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

Umar was accused of collecting N10m from Rasheed Taiwo, a former Customs official who was facing false assets declaration charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal sometimes in 2012.

The EFCC also accused him of receiving N1.8m of the N10m bribe sum through one of his personal assistants, Gambo Abdullahi.

The two counts of fraud contradicted Section 12(1) (a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2003, Keyamo stated in charge affidavit prepared on January 25 and stamped on February 2 at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The defence will also rely on a letter written by two other members of the CCT – Justice Robert Odu (retd.) and Justice Agwaza Atedze – asking former President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the CCT chairman.

The letter, dated April 4, 2014, was addressed to Jonathan through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

In the letter titled, ‘N10m bribery allegation against the Chairman of the CCT’, the other CCT members said, “While we are not in a position to say whether or not the allegation is false (the chairman has vehemently denied the allegations), we wish to request that this allegation be investigated thoroughly and the findings be made public as soon as possible so as to restore the image of the tribunal.”


https://punchng.com/onnoghen-to-ask-cct-chair-to-disqualify-self-for-alleged-fraud/

S

Ok

Hmm.

We are beginning to see the strong stench of corruption oozing out, from the judiciary.

As for the (Ex) CJN, he should have saved us all the banters, by stepping aside, while proving his innocence. Unfortunately, this is Nigeria, where individuals remember that they are for the masses, only when the tides is against them.

O

Watching

Ok

Lol.. Don't you just live this chess game

Olodo CJN

Alleged?

When did a man become guilty before proven guilty...

Umar did not "forget'.

REALLY

If the CCT chair has a case with the efcc then he should step aside as he may be blackmailed to do the bidding of those who want Onnoghen out just as he was blackmailed in saraki's case.

Another delay tactics that will end nowhere. He will only make things more difficult for himself to get a soft landing.

Face your trial and get it done and over with.

In Nigeria, the more you look the less you see

CJN undergoing a death roll. I am at a loss as to what to say. In final analysis, the law should prevail.

Let's go there...but I think both NJC and supreme court position on SEnates suit will end the drama

They should just sell Nigeria. When the Judiciary is corrupt, what is the hope of the common man then.
CJN- corrupt
NBA President - corrupt
CCT chairman - corrupt.

Then what else

pmb we thank u....let them keep exposing their selves

Thieves everywhere...

Someone tell Buhari, ‘what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander ‘

abbeyloyee:
S

G

What a shame. Umar will always find a way around this to shame Pa44 once again.

Tanko should just replace him with another “No nonsense” judge who get chinchin for head.

wild goose chase

NJC should also suspends Tanko .

50/50 no cheating

And this is the kind of person people are still fighting for. Clearly this man is a thief. Instead of saying I didn't steal, his strategy is to point finger at someone else. Oga you are the one on trial, you are the CJN and the question is how did you get over 1.1billion of unexplainable and undeclared assets. Simple!

When you were CJN why didn't you use your powers to change the CCT chairman if you say he is corrupt. Now that you are in trouble you are behaving like one of those thieves that are supporting you

Onnoghen is a disgrace!

GR8ST:
Hmm.

We are beginning to see the strong stench of corruption oozing out, from the judiciary.

As for the (Ex) CJN, he should have saved us all the banters, by stepping aside, while proving his innocence. Unfortunately, this is Nigeria, where individuals remember that they are for the masses, only when the tides is against them.

Walter Onnoggen is CJN not Ex-CJN

912:
And this is the kind of person people are still fighting for. Clearly this man is a thief. Instead of saying I didn't steal his straight is to point finger at someone else. Oga you are the one on trial, you are the CJN and the question is how did you get over 1.1billion of unexplainable and undeclared assets. Simple!

He has already explained but people like you don't read

Dannyset:
What a shame. Umar will always find a way around this to shame Chukwudi once again.

The case is now beyond that riff-raff.It is now in the hands of the supreme court and the NJC

Iblad0994:
They should just sell Nigeria. When the Judiciary is corrupt, what is the hope of the common man then.
CJN- corrupt
NBA President - corrupt
CCT chairman - corrupt.

Then what else

Buhari-Father of corruption and certificate forgery.

flogging a dead horse, if they know this CCT chairman they would just carry their defense instead of delay tactics to court. they guy is very stubborn.