Justice Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of the Federation was absent on Tuesday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal proceedings on medical grounds.
Onnoghen, who is facing a six-count charge of not declaring his assets, wrote the tribunal, informing it that he had high blood pressure and could not attend the hearing due to a medical appointment he had with his doctors.
The lead counsel representing Onnoghen, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, presented a letter from the hospital where Onnoghen is expected to be meeting with medical officials on the appointment.
Reading through the letter, the lead prosecution lawyer, Aliu Umar, said he would concede to the report that the defendant had a medical challenge.
According to Aliu, the content of the medical letter showed that Onnoghen was also battling high blood pressure and that the CJN was ordered to remain on bed rest for the next 72 hours. He also has toothache.
A three-member panel of the tribunal led by Danladi Umar, therefore, adjourned the case till March 15, following a request for an adjournment by the prosecution counsel.
“In view of the medical report presented by the defendant and the fact that the request was conceded by the prosecution, the tribunal hereby adjourns matter till Monday, March 15 as requested by the prosecution,” Umar stated.
Onnoghen is facing trial on alleged false asset declaration.
The tribunal had deferred rulings on two separate applications filed by Onnoghen to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the charges against him pending when final judgment would be delivered in the case.
Umar had ordered a daily hearing of the matter on Monday, after reserving ruling in an application challenging its jurisdiction.
ICIR
