Suspended CJN Walter Onnoghen, while trying to avoid arrest has honored the invitation of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
Justice Onnoghen appeared at the Tribunal to take his plea on the charge of false asset declaration against him.
Justice Onnoghen arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal premises, in a convoy of five cars.
On Wednesday, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar ordered his arrest following his consistent absence from court.
When the trial began, he however pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge bordering assets declaration brought against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
NG Alert Post recalls that the charges were offshoot of a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI) before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Onnoghen has been accused of maintaining undeclared sundry and domiciliary accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself among other allegations.
The government alleged that the suspended CJN had failed to declare his assets immediately after taking office as CJN.
According to the prosecution, the action went contrary to Section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman of the tribunal, however, admitted the defendant to bail on self-recognisance.
Umar also struck out the bench warrant he issued to compel the defendant to appear before him.
He therefore, adjourned the matter until March 11, for the hearing of all pending interlocutory applications.
NAN reports that the defendant had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.
Onnoghen, also filed a motion asking the chairman of the tribunal to recuse himself from adjudicating the matter.
