Embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop his arrest as ordered on Wednesday by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He told the court to “give an order setting aside the order of the tribunal made on February 13, 2019; an order for the constitution of a different panel at the CCT to try him and an order dispensing his presence from the CCT.”
According to him, no order to attend the CCT trial had ben served on him, so his absence could not amount to disobedience.
“The appellant (Onnoghen) has a pending motion challenging the competence of the charge preferred against him and the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain same.
“Until the issue of the CCT jurisdiction being challenged by the appellant is heard and determined, the physical presence of the appellant to take his plea is not mandatory or necessary.
“The order of the bench warrant is a breach of the respondent’s right to appellant’s right to liberty under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” the suspended CJN said.
Stop my arrest – Onnoghen tells Appeal Court
