The tribunal hearing corruption charges against a top judge in Nigeria on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for him.
Nigeria’s suspended chief justice Justice Walter Onnoghen was ordered last week to appear in person for his trial on February 13.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is hearing a case involving Onnoghen who is said to have failed to declare his assets before taking office in 2017.
The warrant for his arrest is coming days ahead of the country’s crucial general elections on Saturday.
The embattled judge has failed to appear for his trial since the case begun last month.
The tribunal now wants Onnoghen to appear on February 15 for the trial hence the order for his arrest.
“The inspector general of police is hereby ordered to arrest and bring the defendant to court unfailingly on the next sitting of the court on Friday,” Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Danladi Umar said.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari suspended the chief justice, backing it with the ongoing hearing at the CCT.
The suspended top judge had challenged his ongoing trial. But an appeal’s court cleared the way for the hearing to begin.
Onnoghen’s suspension has been condemned by many including the opposition in Nigeria and the country’s bar association.
But President Buhari has rejected claims that his decision is political.
Source: Africafeeds.com
