The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has issued a bench warrant ordering the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar who issued the warrant on Wednesday following Onnoghen’s absence in court for arraignment also ordered the Police and DSS to produce him in court on the next adjourned date.

The tribunal had at its last sitting on February 4, ordered Onnoghen to make himself available in court on February 13 for arraignment over his alleged failure to declare his assets.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, Onnoghen was not in court and his lawyers, led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) prayed the court to take all pending applications relating to the trial, particularly the issue of the tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The Prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN) however urged the court to address the issue of the defendant’s absence in court for his arraignment before the application on jurisdiction.

In his brief ruling, the CCT Chairman recalled that he had insisted that the defendant should appear in court for arraignment and since he was absent, he left the tribunal with no choice than to order his arrest.

He consequently ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the DSS to arrest Onnoghen and produce him in court on Friday, February 15 for arraignment.