Nigeria: Court orders arrest of suspended chief justice

By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS Nigeria (AA) - After his failure to appear for his corruption trial, Nigeria's code of conduct tribunal has ordered the arrest of the country's suspended chief justice.

Danladi Umar, head of the tribunal, asked security agents to “produce” Walter Onnoghen on Friday for fresh hearings on the case.

The tribunal issued the warrant following an application by the government's counsel, who said Onnoghen was wrong to continue to shun court sittings to give his plea.

Onnoghen's lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo had urged the tribunal to hear an application challenging the tribunal's powers to hear the case.

Onnoghen is accused of holding illegal foreign accounts and failing to fully declare his assets.

President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the chief justice in January over the allegations, accusing him of abusing his office and manipulating the judiciary to shield himself from trial.

The suspension has polarized the country along political lines, with the main opposition party PDP and lawyers’ body rejecting the move. Some Western countries have also raised concerns about it, drawing the ire of the Nigerian government.