The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday postponed its planned hearing of the three appeals filed by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen to February 27.

This is the third time, in one month, the court will postpone hearing in the appeals filed against the decisions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) before which Onnoghen is standing trial for alleged breach of code of conduct for public officers.

Onnoghen is, by his first appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to hear the charge against him, being a serving judicial officer.

He is, in the second appeal, querying the propriety of the CCT’s ruling of January 14 this year, in which it elected to hear all pending application.

The third appeal is against the CCT ex-parte order directing Onnoghen to vacate office as CJN and President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an acting CJN.

The court had, in late January this year, scheduled hearing in the appeals for February 12 thus year.

When parties got to court, the court could not form a quorum for the purpose of hearing the appeals. Two of the three Justices, required to form a quorum, were said to be attending a seminar.

The court subsequently adjourned to the next day. It could also not hear the appeals on February 13 owing to a request by the Federal Government to be allowed to engage a new lawyer.

Oyin Koleoso, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), told the court that the AGF has instructed that Aliyu Umar – SAN – (who is prosecuting the charge at the CCT) should take over the case of the respondent.

Kolaoso noted that Umar was, (at the moment the Court of Appeal proceedings were on), at the CCT.

Koleoso sought an adjournment to enable Umar take over the case of the respondent.



Lawyers to the appellant, Chris Uche (SAN) objected to an adjournment, but he was overruled by a three-man panel of the court presided over by Justice Abdul Aboki.

The court further adjourned hearing in the appeals till February 20.

Again, when parties got to court on Tuesday, Umar, who appeased for the respondents, said he has filed an application, in which he, among others sought to be afforded time to familiarise himself with what had been filed in the appeals so far.

Appellant’s lawyer, Uche did not object to a request for a brief adjournment, following which the court adjourned till February 27 this year
http://thenationonlineng.net/again-appeal-court-fails-to-hear-onnoghens-appeals/

Cc pchukwudi

All this madness by buhari would end after Feb 23

Our courts have gone to d dogs. FG bent on ensuring d matter nor debated. It won't last forever. Becoming clearer d whole urgency was to ease of Onnoghen in d run-up to 2019 election

Atiku4betaNaija:
Despite the fact that buhari has broken all his campaign promises, failed the three key pillars the All Progressives Congress (APC) advertised in its mission statement security, fighting corruption &rebuilding the economy & has been unable to defend the abysmal record of his government, President Muhammadu Buhari wants to preside over Nigeria for another term of four years.

Waiting for apc boys on Saturday

Why the copy?


This does not call for any jubilation.

I think the Judiciary is being cautious.

Time will tell whether they're doing it out of fear or sense of responsibility. But some people think they are doing this just to avoid heating up the polity any further and thereby birthing uncontrollable circumstances that may disrupt the elections.

modath:

Cc pchukwudi

onnoghen will get justice no matter how long it will take