A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to withdraw the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Falana faulted the move by the government to press charges against the CJN.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had filed criminal charges against Justice Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged failure to declare his assets, as well as operating a domiciliary account.

In his reaction, Falana asked the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to withdraw the charges against the CJN.

The CCT had said it would commence the trial of Justice Onnoghen on Monday, January 14, on six charges.

It explained that the charges were filed before it by the CCB, based on a petition signed by the Executive Secretary of the anti-corruption research data-based initiative, Dennis Aghanya.

Apart from Falana’s reaction, the charges against the CJN attracted the attention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) among others who criticised the government’s action.

The NBA described the trial of Justice Onnoghen as an “assault on the judiciary”, saying it must be stopped as it does not follow the rule of law.

It also decried the speed at which the case was handled and alleged that all due protocols were not unobserved.

An eminent legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, has criticised the Federal Government for the planned arraignment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

In a statement personally signed by him on Sunday, the senior lawyer said the government has no justification for its decision to arraign the CJN before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

He stated that the Constitution clearly provided for the procedure with which the Chief Justice of Nigeria can be removed from office.

Unlike other judicial officers, Babalola stressed that the CJN can only be removed by the President, upon receipt of an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.

He also condemned the application seeking an order directing Justice Onnoghen to recuse himself from office pending the conclusion of the trial.

The prominent lawyer described the proposed arraignment of the CJN as one that unfairly degrades not only the judiciary but also the Constitution of the land.

Nigerian Bar Association has said the trial of Justice Walter Onnoghen, is an assault on the Judiciary.

According to the NBA, the media trial of the embattled chief justice does not follow the rule of law, hence should be stopped.

The NBA amongst other things decried the speed at which the case is being handled, claiming that all due protocols have been intentionally left unobserved.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki advised the Federal Government to ensure its plans to put on trial the nation’s chief judicial officer, Justice Walter Onnoghen does not cause chaos in the judicial system and that the due process is not compromised.

Saraki noted that he believes that if the Government truly has a genuine reason to put the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria on trial, it should ensure that every step in the process is transparent and the normal process as provided by the law is followed to the letter.

He said a situation where the petition which triggered the trial was submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Wednesday, January 8 and by January 10 on Friday, the Chief Justice was presented with it for his reply only for the charges to be drafted that same day and filed in the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), all this taking place within three days and commencement of trial fixed for Monday, January 14, already indicate unnecessary haste and short-circuiting of the process of fair hearing.