FG CLOSES CASE AGAINST WALTER ONNOGHEN

FG closes case against Walter Onnoghen - The federal government leaves out three witnesses as it closes its case against the suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen - Aliyu Umar, counsel to the government, says the three witnesses left out could still be called to the stand if the defence wants to cross-examine them - However, Adeboyega Awomolo, counsel to Onnoghen, ruled out the possibility of calling the government’s other three witnesses to the stand The federal government on Thursday, March 21, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that it was closing its case against the suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, after calling three witnesses to the stand. The government had had initially listed six witnesses in the case, but Aliyu Umar, counsel to the government told the tribunal that the other three witnesses could still be called to the stand if the defence wants to cross-examine them, McCozar Blogspot reports. I have called three witnesses. If the defence needs them, I can call the other three,” the lawyer said. But the CCT chairman, Danladi Umar overruled Aliyu Umar's statement. “This is the case of the prosecution. If it feels that it is satisfied with evidence of the three witnesses, then so be it," the CCT Chairman held. In his response, Adeboyega Awomolo, counsel to Onnoghen, ruled out the possibility of calling the government’s other three witnesses, saying: “I don’t want them, I don’t want them.” He then told the tribunal that he intends to file a no-case submission no case submission with respect to all the allegations federal government levelled against his client, but would need time to write an address. “We intend to take advantage of section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 on no-case submission,” he said. “If your lordship permits me to write a written address. I’m praying to be given proceedings of 18th and today.” The CCT chairman, Danladi Umar, ordered Awomolo to serve his address on the prosecution and fixed March 29 as the day counsels would adopt their addresses. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, has threatened to send journalists who distort facts from proceedings in the ongoing trial of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, to jail. The judge warned that he will not hesitate to deal decisively with any journalist distorting facts about the case. McCozar Blogspot report.