Drama ensued Monday in Abuja at the ongoing trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, when the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi Umar, engaged counsel to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in war of words over adjournment request by the defendant.
The embattled CJN Onnoghen who refused to appear in court for the third time had through his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the tribunal to temporarily suspend the trial pending the National Judicial Council decision over the matter.
“I humbly pray your Lordships to tarry for awhile so that the defendant will not suffer double jeopardy. “It is in the interest of justice to also the NJC to take a decision before proceeding with the case. I believe that the integrity of this tribunal will be further enhanced if this application is granted”, Awomolo added.
Reacting, the prosecution, Aliyu Umar, did not opposed to the adjournment request, he however condemned what he described as “consistent absence” of the suspended CJN at the tribunal.
Umar thereafter suggested that the matter should be adjourned till Thursday, warning that FG would not hesitate to wield its powers and apply for an arrest warrant against Onnoghen should he fail to appear at next hearing.
He said: “If he fails to appear on that day, we will be forced to apply for a bench warrant”,
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Umar, has insisted that despite the preliminary objection the suspended CJN filed to challenge jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him, he will proceed with the trial and allow the parties to lay their arguments.
However, drama ensued in the court room when Umar accused Onnoghen’s legal team of deliberately employing delay tactics in a bid to frustrate the trial. Enraged by Umar’s comment the following shouting match ensued between the tribunal Chairman and Awomolo.
Awomolo replied as saying: “My lord, with due respect, I take exception to the fact that we delay justice and have been employing tactics.
“In my over 40 years at the Bar, I have never been found wanting in the discharge of my duties and my mates can testify to that,”
At that point, Umar, the tribunal chairman, shouted down again on Awomolo ordering him to sit down an order that did not go down well with Awomolo.
That again triggered another round of hot exchange and strong reaction from Awomolo who insisted that respect begets respect.
He said: “With due respect again, I take exception to that. I will not stand and allow anyone to disrespect me in front of junior lawyers who look up to me. I take serious exception to that”, Awomolo fumed.
“My position is that you have to move your application today, if you don’t, I will ask the prosecution to move it’s own application for interlocutory injunction against the defendant”, the CCT Chairman maintained.
But dousing the tension, the prosecution counsel Aliyu Umar convinced the tribunal to stand-down the matter for about 30 minutes. About 10 minutes after, the panel reconvened and adjourned the case till 13th February 2019.
