Suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Tuesday, failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for the Federal Government to open its case against him.
Onnoghen, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awolowo, SAN, notified the Mr. Danladi Umar-led three-man panel tribunal that he developed an acute toothache which needed urgent medical attention.
To establish his claim, counsel to the suspended CJN who is answering to a six-count charge, tendered a medical report that was issued to him by the hospital where he was said to be receiving treatment.
Vanguard reports that upon an inquiry from the tribunal, FG’s lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Umar, SAN, acknowledged that he was served with a photocopy of the said medical report.
The prosecution counsel told the tribunal that he would have raised an objection against Onnoghen’s failure to appear for his trial on the basis of the medical report, if not for the fact that the doctor indicated that the defendant had a high blood pressure measured at 410/121.
Umar, SAN, said he was therefore constrained to reserve his observation on the medical report since the doctor equally indicated that the embattled CJN would need a bed rest for at least 72 hours.
Meanwhile, following an agreement by both the defence and the prosecution, the CCT Chairman, Mr. Umar, reluctantly adjourned the matter till March 18.