FEDERAL HIGH COURT STOPS TRIAL OF CHIEF JUSTICE OVER ALLEGED FALSE ASSET DECLARATION

It is recalled that, a former official of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), a party formed by President Muhammadu Buhari, had raised a petition against the Chief Justice of Nigeria alleging him of false asset declaration

Penpushing further reports that, many lawyers have faulted the move by the Federal Government to arraign the Chief Justice, arguing that it was an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, while the trial was suspended to January 22, after the accused lawyers challenged the jurisdiction on Monday and argued that their client was not properly served.

The ruling has it that the parties expected to appear in court on Thursday include the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the National Judicial Council, headed by the accused and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Penpushing also reports that, the applications were brought by the incorporated trustees of two groups: the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, and the International Association of Students Economists and Management.

Penpushing further reports that, the Chief Justice was absent at the first trial on Monday, but was represented by 45 lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)