As the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) begins sitting on allegation of false assets declaration by the country’s Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Justice Walter Onnoghen, no fewer than 30 Senior Advocates of Nigeria with around 100 other junior lawyers have so far appeared in defence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria who is scheduled to be arraigned on six counts of non-declaration of assets on Monday.
The defence team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), is appearing against the Federal Government’s prosecution team with only one Senior Advocate of Nigeria and four other junior counsels.
Some of the SANs appearing for the CJN that have arrived court included Olanipekun, Chief Kanu Agabi, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, Mrs. Victoria Agabi, Sebastine Hon, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Garba Tetengi A.T Kehinde, and Effiong Offiong.
Others also include, Yusuf Ali, Sylva Ogwemoh, Paul Erokoro, Tawo, among others.
As at the time of filling this report, the CJN has not been seen on the tribunal’s premises for the proceedings scheduled to start by 10am.
Meanwhile, the lead prosecuting counsel, Umar is a former Director of Public Prosecution in Kano State.
Umar arrived the CCT at about 9.10am.
He was one of the senior lawyers appointed in 2016 by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of what was meant to be the government’s Special Prosecution Team.
The then special prosecuting team which appears to be technically disbanded comprised 20 SANs and 60 other lawyers.
