The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Tuesday, ruled that orders made by the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, stopping the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, at the CCT, are not binding on it.
The CCT held that the courts are of coordinate jurisdiction with the CCT, and as such, lack powers to issue orders to the Tribunal.
The CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, said this while rejecting a motion by Onnoghen, asking the Tribunal to adjourn indefinitely, based on orders made by the High Courts and the National Industrial Court, that parties must maintain status quo.
This means that the trial of the CJN at the CCT must go on, and failure to appear before it, may lead to the immediate arrest and possible jail term for the CJN.
More later…