The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has issued a bench warrant against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, for arraignment on February 15.

It also mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji to effect his arrest.

TheLagostimes gathered that this development was sequel to an application by the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar praying the tribunal that a bench warrant be issued against Onnoghen whom he said has been consistently absent in order to compel his appearance.

He also said that contrary to the application of the lead defence counsel no motion is ripe for hearing in view of the absence of the defendant.

The lead defence counsel Mr Adeboyega Awomolo in his reply urged the tribunal to refuse the application for a warrant of arrest for some reasons owing to adjournments of trial dates from January 22 to 28 for arguments of all the applications.

But the tribunal chairman, however, objected and reminded that he had given an order that the defendant must be at the tribunal.

He insisted that the defendant ought to be in court, noting that section 396 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act requires that a defendant must be in court at all times during the trial and the tribunal must use all the arsenal available to him to compel the defendant to be in court.

Recall that Justice Onnoghen is facing six charges bordering on failure to declare his assets and operating a domiciliary account, among other charges.