The Code of Conduct Tribunal trying the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, over alleged non-declaration of assets can carry on.
The declaration was made by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja which Onnoghen had approached to stop his trial at the CCT.
Onnoghen had argued that the tribunal had no such right to try him.
But giving its ruling on Wednesday, the three-man panel led by Justice Abdul Aboki at the Court of Appeal explained that the case against Onnoghen was on criminal charges and that it had no such right to stop it.
The court added that not enough evidence had been provided to grant the stay of execution.
It therefore dismissed the motion Onnoghen filed for stay of proceeding.
Said Aboki: “A court has inherent jurisdiction to grant stay of proceedings where it is certified that enough evidence has been given for such.”
The court has therefore adjourned till February 4 when it will continue with the probe of the authority of the CCT to try him.
Onnoghen is standing trial at the CCT over alleged non-declaration of assets.
President Muhammadu Buhari has following an order of the CCT suspended Onnoghen and replaced him with Justice Tanko Mohammed who is now acting.
Onnoghen has also gone to court to challenge his suspension.
Also, joining in the controversy, the Senate has gone to the Supreme Court to determine whether or not the action of the president in suspending Onnohen was a usurpation of the power of the legislators.
