The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has been granted bail on self-recognition at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Igbere TV reports.
This was as Onnoghen, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to the six count-charge levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The six count-charge, Igbere TV gathered, were subsumed that aside allegation that he failed to disclose his assets as prescribed by law, he was equally accused of operating foreign bank accounts as CJN.
It was also alleged that contrary to relevant laws regulating the conduct of public office holders, the CJN, maintained a domiciliary foreign currencies account that comprised use of Dollars Account, Pound Sterling Account and Euro Account.
Onnoghen had on four previous dates, declined to appear before the tribunal which he contended lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the charge against him.
Consequently, the tribunal ordered key security agencies in the country to arrest Onnoghen and produce him for trial.
The tribunal specifically directed the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, to execute the arrest warrant.
However, the order was not carried out as the suspended CJN, voluntarily appeared before the tribunal to enter his plea to the charge.
Before the tribunal proceeded with the matter, the defence counsel, Chris Uche, SAN pleaded that the order of warrant of arrest slammed against his client be vacated.
In his words, “We are here for the arraignment but before the tribunal proceeds, it will be recalled that there are applications pending.
“It was the view by way of the majority decision of this tribunal that the defendant must appear.
“And here is the defendant. But may I plead that the order of the bench warrant be discharged before proceedings “.
In reaction, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar conveyed approval but said it would be on the condition that the CJN makes himself available whenever needed.
Shortly after after the vacation of the order of arrest, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Mr. Uche, again applied for his client to be granted bail on self recognizance.
The application was accordingly granted by the CCT Chairman.
Uche, thereafter, rose to apply for an adjournment over which the prosecuting counsel, Musa Ibrahim did not object.
On this premise, the tribunal chairman acceded to the application and adjourned the case to March 11, for hearing of all pending applications.
