The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has directed that the 6-count charge bothering on failure to declare his assets the Federal Government preferred against Justice Walter Onnoghen, should be served on him personally.
A three-man panel of the Tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar also fixed Tuesday next week for the CJN to appear before it to enter his plea to the charge.
Sequel to his failure to appear at the CCT on Monday, the lead prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar, SAN, told the Tribunal that Onnoghen directed his personal assistant to received the charge on his behalf.
Danladi Umar had demanded to know why the CJN was not in court and if he was served with the charge.
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who is heading the CJN’s defence team informed the three-member panel of the Tribunal headed by Danladi Yakubu Umar that the defendant has filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to entertain the suit.
Olanipekun also informed the court that the defendant was not in court because he has not been served with the summons of the Tribunal.
The head of prosecution team, Alhaji Aliyu Umar, told the court that the CJN was served through one of his personal assistants.
He said, “When we went to his house, he directed his personal assistant to collect the charge on his behalf. His personal assistant endorsed it, so he has been served.”
The judge, however, directed that the CJN be served personally and adjourned the matter till next week Tuesday.