THE ongoing false assets declaration case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) involving the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, has been postponed indefinitely.

Onnoghen, who was suspended from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, is accused of failing to declare some of his bank accounts, which according to the presidency, contained huge amounts of money.

There has been raging controversy over Onnoghen’s arraignment before the CCT, without having been investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) as requested by law. Onnoghen had refused to attend the first two hearings at the CCT; his lawyers argued that the CCT lacks the jurisdiction to try the head of the judiciary.

On Thursday, January 24, the Court of Appeal ruled that Onnoghen’s case at the CCT should be stayed pending the determination of an appeal filed before the court with regards to the issue.

However, on Friday, President Buhari said he suspended the CJN based on an ex parte order by the CCT on Wednesday. Buhari’s action has been described by many as an affront on the constitution, as the president has no powers under the constitution to remove the head of another independent arm of government.

When the case resumed on Monday at the CCT, Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, said the case was being adjourned indefinitely to allow the Court of Appeal decide on it.

“In view of the Court of Appeal (order) to stay the proceeding, I hereby adjourn the matter sine die pending the termination of the Court of Appeal,” Umar said.

Already, the Nigeria Bar Association has scheduled an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Monday. The meeting is expected to be attended by the NBA’s national officers, past presidents, past general secretaries, branch chairmen, branch secretaries, branch NEC representatives, and chairmen and secretaries of sections.

Similarly, the National Judicial Council have also convoked an extraordinary meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 29, to look into the CJN issue. Constitutionally, Onnoghen is the head of the NJC, but reports on Monday have it that he may not preside over Tuesday’s meeting, neither will Tanko Mohammed, who was appointed and sworn-in on Friday by Buhari as the Acting CJN.