A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday restated its order restraining the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and some others from proceeding with the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Justice Evelyn Maha restated the order on Thursday at the resumed hearing of the suits brought by two groups, who are challenging the propriety of the charge brought against the CJN before the CCT by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The first suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2019 was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative (CJPI), while the second, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2019 was by the Incorporated Trustees of the International Association of Students Economists and Management (IASEM).
Listed as defendants, in the first suit, are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), CCT Chairman, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and President of the Senate.
The second suit has, as defendants, the AGF, the CCT Chair, the CCT, the CCB, the Chairman of CCB, and the IGP.
When the first case was called on Thursday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN) said the court had, at the last proceedings on January 14, 2019, adjourned to January 17 for hearing of the plaintiff’s motion on notice.
Lawal-Rabana said all the defendants have been served with the processes filed by the plaintiff and the enrolled order of the court’s ex-parte ruling of January 14, 2019. He said it was only the Senate President that has not been served.
Lawal-Rabana sought a short adjournment to enable the plaintiff serve the Senate President as required.
Lawyer to the 4th defendant, National Judicial Council (NJC), Garba Tetengi (SAN) said his client was served.
Tetengi, who represented the only defendant that turned up in court on Thursday, said he would not object to the request for a short adjournment.
Ruling, Justice Maha ordered proper service of the court processes on the defendants.
The judge restated the January 14 order on parties to maintain status quo and adjourned to January 28 for hearing.
Justice Maha equally adjourned the second case to January 28.
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