Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, on Friday, adjourned the trial of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on charges of non-declaration of assets, till March 11.

The tribunal chairman had earlier insisted on adjourning the matter till February 21 in defiance to an agreement between the prosecuting team led by Ibrahim Musa and the defence team led by Chris Uche (SAN). He said:
“Having taken consideration that there will be election tomorrow, the tribunal grants the defendant bail based on self-recognizance.”

Onnoghen had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the federal government. Chief Chris Uche (SAN) spoke with journalists after the proceedings, he spoke about the arraignment of the topmost judicial officer in the country, saying:

“It is a very sad day for democracy, a very sad day for Nigeria. It is a struggle for the maintenance of the due process and it is a struggle for separation of powers. The CJN had to suffer the indignity of coming before this tribunal to take his plea. But we are happy that the world will now know the truth that there is more to this case.‎”