UPDATE: CCT orders Walter Onnoghen’s arrest

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has ordered the arrest of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

The tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other law enforcement agencies are directed to arrest Onnoghen and bring him to the tribunal on Friday for arraignment over alleged non-declaration of assets.

SEE ALSO: BREAKING: FG applies for arrest warrant against Onnoghen

Umar held that for any objection to the charge to be taken, it must be after the plea of the defendant has been taken.

“In view of the above, the tribunal having given the defendant opportunity to avail himself on several occasions and he failed; in the circumstance, the tribunal hereby issue bench warrant to the Inspector General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the defendant to the Tribunal on Friday for his arraignment,” he held.

Our reporter observed that there was no concurrence or non-concurrence rulings from the other two members of the tribunal when the tribunal chairman adjourned the proceedings, stood up and walked out of the tribunal. The members followed him out.

It was also observed that while the parties argued for over two hours for and against the granting of the application for arrest warrant, the tribunal chairman read his ruling from a two page paper that he brought out of his file.