The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has once again called on the Nigerian government to withdraw the charges of non-declaration of assets filed against Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In a statement by Paul Usoro, the NBA President, issued on Tuesday, the association called on the government to comply with due process by allowing the National Judicial Council (NJC) conclude the investigation into the petitions against Onnoghen at the Council.
The call is coming hours before the Code of Conduct Tribunal is expected to sit on Wednesday.
Usoro said: “Given these non-exhaustive considerations and facts, we press on the Executive arm of the FGN to please discontinue the charge against the CJN when the matter comes up before the CCT on Wednesday, 13 February 2019.
“We respectfully urge full compliance with due process by FGN in this matter by allowing the NJC process to take its course in respect of the two petitions against the CJN, a step that has already, commendably, been embraced by FGN in respect of the EFCC petition.”
Onnoghen was accused of committing fraud in the declaration of his assets, an offence contrary to the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Moves by the government to freeze Onnoghen’s bank accounts was thwarted by a high court order that barred the government from doing so, except there is a court order.
