Opposition political parties in Nigeria under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have hailed the Court of Appeal for restraining the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) from proceeding with hearing in the false assets declaration suit filed against the Chief Justice of the federation, Walter Onnoghen.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Thursday morning granted the interim order restraining the CCT pending ruling on Onnoghen’s application for stay of proceedings.

Reacting to the development, the CUPP, through a statement issued by its first National Spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere described the court’s verdict as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

The Coalition said opposition parties in the country stood for the independence of the judiciary and would fight to protect such sacred institutions from being destroyed by any administration.

“The Coalition of United Political Parties received with joy the news of the ruling of the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal which sat in Abuja and restrained the Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal from continuing with the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria pending the determination of the main motion.

“The opposition sees the ruling as victory for democracy and rule of law and a fatal blow to the All Progressives Congress political barbarians who are desperate to annex the Supreme Court to the list of their already destroyed national institutions.

“We advise APC to build a private court for their members as the Nigerian court cannot be intimidated to submit to the leadership of the outgoing ruling party.

“The opposition coalition stands for the independence of the judiciary and will fight with the last drop of its blood to protect such sacred institutions from being destroyed,” the statement read.