Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The interim order stopping the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has been extended to January 28 by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
The CJN is facing a six-count charges of false assets declaration filed against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, adjourned the two separate suits to enable services on the respondents to be perfected.
The plaintiffs are the Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, and the Incorporated Trustees of International Association of Students.
Those listed as defendants in the twin suits are the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Inspector General of Police, the National Judicial Council chaired by Onnoghen and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The two plaintiffs had through separate applications on January 14, obtained interim orders directing the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suits, which was fixed for Thursday for hearing.
When the case filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative was mentioned, the plaintiff’s counsel, R.A. Lawal Rabana SAN, informed the court that the business of the day was to move the motion on notice.
He said all the respondents to the suit, except the Senate President, had been served with the processes and the enrolled order of the court.
The senior lawyer urged the court for a short adjournment to ensure that the Senate President was served in the interest of justice.
The National Judicial Council was the only respondent that attended the hearing on Thursday.
Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN), who announced appearance for the NJC confirmed that he had been served the court process.
He said he had no objection to the request for a short adjournment.
In her ruling, Justice Maha held that the processes served on the respondents were not accompanied with the certificate itemising each of the processes served on each of the respondents.
She ordered the plaintiff to regularise the service and ensure that the Senate President was served. She adjourned the matter till January 28 for hearing.
A similar suit filed by Incorporated Trustees of the International Association of Students was also adjourned to the same date as it was observed by the judge to have the same service defects.
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