Breaking: Onnoghen Surrenders to CCT, Refuses to Sit in the Dock

Pat Stevens/

The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, rejected an offer of a seat in the dock made to him by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar as hearing begins in his trial in Abuja, today.

Onnoghen had earlier entered the dock to answer to the charges of non-declaration of assets instituted against him by the Federal Government.

Umar had asked tribunal officials to give him a seat in the dock but was surprised to still see him standing.

But, realising there was a seat in the dock, Umar then faced Onnoghen and said twice: “‎My Lord, sit down”.

But Onnoghen showed no interest in taking the seat and replied: “I will use the seat when I need it”.

He thereafter remained standing with a smiling face while the prosecution and defence teams announced their appearance.

Onnoghen’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), ‎announced his presence at about 10.30am after which the suspended CJN stepped into the dock.

Onnoghen who wore transparent glasses with ‎black frame, was making his first public appearance since ‎January 25 when President Muhammadu Buhari suspended him.

He voluntarily appeared at the CCT today following Wednesday’s order by the tribunal chairman for his arrest.

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