The first defence witness (W1), Lawal Olanrewaju Busari, called by the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in the ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), told the tribunal on Monday that he alongside Onnoghen submitted their assets declaration form in 2010.
Blueprint reports that the witness attestation on Monday was in contrast with the prosecution’s charge that Onnoghen did not declare his assets between 2005 and 2016.
FG had in the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/19, alleged that Onnoghen’s failure to properly declare his assets between 2005 and 2015, was in violation of section 15(2) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
The tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar had in a ruling at the last adjourned date dismissed Onnoghen’s a no-case submission.
The tribunal insisted that the allegations against him are weighty and warrant that he enters his defence.
But at the resumed trial on Monday, Busari who was led by the defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), to the witness box to testify said he, on behalf of Onnoghen, paid the sum of N200 for the oath-taking aspect of the assets declaration at the treasury office of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on November 3, 2010.
The witness said that he personally submitted his own completed form and that of Onnoghen to the Code of Conduct Bureau’s office in Asokoro, Abuja on November 4, 2010.
Busari, a Chief Driver Mechanic and staff of the Supreme Court who had been serving as Onnoghen’s driver since 1999, confirmed further that the CJN obtained his assets declaration form on July 28, 2010 and submitted it to Code of Conduct Bureau on November 4, 2010.
He said, “On November 4, 2010, we, myself and his lordship, submitted our forms back to CCB, Asokoro Office. I don’t know the name of the person who collected the forms from me, but I climbed the stair-case and met a light in complexion woman.
“She received my form and that of my lordship. I was not given any acknowledgement copy that day. She asked me to come back to collect the acknowledgement copy.
“When I went back, they demanded my ID card, which I showed them. I met a man who went inside and brought out a bulk of acknowledgement slips. They searched for my name and when they found it, I quickly confirmed that it was mine, he then gave it to me.”
Meanwhile, a mild drama ensued when an attempt by the defence to tender the witnesses’ acknowledgement slip was opposed by the Aliyu Umar, SAN – led prosecution team.
The tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, at that point upheld the objection and rejected the document which he said was not relevant.
After Busari closed his evidence-in-chief, he was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel.
Sequel to directive of the tribunal, the CJN is likely going to call two or three more witnesses to establish his innocence.
Meanwhile, when Justice Onnoghen persuaded the tribunal to issue subpoena to compel a Director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, office in Edo State, Mrs Theresa Nwafor, to appear as his second witness, the application was not opposed by the prosecution.
Umar has since adjourned the case till Wednesday to enable more witness to appear and give evidence in the trial.
