Suspend Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen has filed a suit against the federal government over his suspension.
The suit was filed by his lawyers, Wole Olanipekun, Adegboyega Awomolo, Kanu Agabi and James Onoja.
The suspended CJN based his appeal on four grounds, adding that he was not given a fair hearing by the CCT before the order to swear-in Justice Tanko Muhammad was given.
The appeal read in part, “The chairman and a member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal erred in law and violated the right of the appellant (Onnoghen) to a fair hearing when they made the order ex parte that he (Onnoghen) shall step aside as CJN and Chairman of the National Judicial Council over allegations of contravening provisions of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation 2004 pending the determination of the motion on notice dated January 10, 2019.”
He asked the court to rule that the order was null and void.
The Federal Government had on Friday suspended Onnoghen acting on the order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
A new acting CJN, Ibrahim Mohammed was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari’s suspension of Onnoghen had been generating serious criticism across the nation and beyond.
