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CJN: Protesters Storm CCT, Demand Withdrawal Of Charges …As CCT Rejects High Court Orders Stopping Onnoghen’s Trial

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7 years ago

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Over 1,000 protesters, yesterday, stormed the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), asking the Federal Government to withdraw the non-assets declaration charges it preferred against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The placard and national flag-wielding protesters surrounded the perimeters of the tribunal which is located at the Jabi District of the Federal Capital Territory, drumming and chanting in solidarity with the embattled CJN.
Among the protesters were groups of Muslim women, lawyers and several civil society organisations.
Armed mobile policemen were, however, stationed at strategic locations within and outside the CCT premises.
Meanwhile, for the second time, the CJN declined to appear before the Mr. Danladi Umar’s led three-member tribunal.
A consortium of over 80 lawyers led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, however, announced their appearance for the CJN.
Olanipekun drew attention of the tribunal to two different High Court orders, as well as an order of the National Industrial Court, stopping trial of the CJN pending determination of the cases.
He further notified the tribunal that the Abuja Division of Court of Appeal has already been briefed of the facts of the case.
Consequently, Olanipekun applied for the trial to be adjourned indefinitely pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.
“The Supreme Court had repeatedly held that it will amount to judicial rascality and irresponsibility if a court or tribunal is aware and still proceeds”, Olanipekun submitted.
After Olanipekun’s submission, the CCT temporarily suspended its proceeding to rule on an application the CJN had filed to challenge his trial.
The three-member tribunal had said it will reconvene by 1:30pm to decide whether or not it would okay indefinite adjournment of the criminal charges the Federal Government entered against the CJN.
Onnoghen, who for the second time, failed to appear before the CCT to take his plea on the six-count charge bordering on his alleged failure to declare his assets as well as allegations that he maintained domiciliary foreign bank accounts, had through his team of lawyers, applied for his trial to be adjourned sine-die.
But on resumption of proceedings later, the Code of Conduct Tribunal said orders made by the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria stopping the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, were not binding on it.
The CCT held that the courts are of coordinate jurisdiction with the CCT and so lack powers to issue orders to the tribunal.
The CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, said this while rejecting a motion by Onnoghen asking the tribunal to adjourn indefinitely based on orders made by two high courts and the NICN that parties must maintain status quo.
Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja, yesterday held that the orders by the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court restraining or stopping it from proceeding with the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen are not binding on it.
The three-member panel of the Tribunal headed by Danladi Yakubu Umar, in a split decision of two to one, discountenanced the orders of the two courts on the grounds that they were courts of equal jurisdiction and the CCT is a special Court empowered to handle exclusively the issues relating to assets declaration of public office holders.
Onnoghen’s lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (CJN), in the non disclosure of assets charge preferred against him by the federal government had, in an application asked the Tribunal to adjourn trial indefinitely pending the determination of suits seeking to stop the trial, wherein the courts ordered that trial should be temporarily put in hold.
Umar had in his ruling held that those who obtained the orders of the High Court were busybodies because they are not parties in the matter at the Tribunal and maintained that the orders of the High Courts and that of the National Industrial Court are null and void on account of being inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.
According to the CCT chairman, Section 246(1)(a) of the Constitution makes it crystal clear that the Tribunal has unquantified jurisdiction to hear any assets declaration case as may be referred to it by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
He also disagreed with the request by the lead defence counsel for an adjournment of the trial sine die (indefinitely) on the grounds of a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, adding that section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, did not make provisions for stay of proceedings in a criminal matter and that in the instant case, it shall not be entertained.
Atedze, in his dissenting ruling, held that it would result to judicial anarchy for the Tribunal to proceed with the trial in view of the four subsisting court orders and the pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.
According to him, orders are binding on the Tribunal until they are set aside in view of Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution which allow court orders to be enforced in all parts of the county and that the CCT cannot operate in isolation.
“Having summarised argument from both parties, it is my submission that CCT, as a creation of law is bound by the existing court orders to avoid judicial anarchy,” he held in his dissenting decision.
The member who further said that the issue of jurisdiction of the Tribunal to entertain the charge against the CJN must first be resolved added that status quo must be maintained by adjourning proceedings sine die until all contending issues are resolved.
Although the Chairman ordered that the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to be moved immediately, Chief Olanipekun however, informed the Tribunal that the response of the complainant, Federal government was served on him late Monday and as such, needed time to study the response and then file the reply on point of law.
Counsel to the Federal government, Aliyu Umar, agreed that the government’s response was served late on the defendant, prompting the Chairman to adjourn further proceedings till Monday, January 28, 2019.

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Odu Urges Collaboration Among Stakeholders To Improve Health Service Delivery In Rivers

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17 hours ago

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April 10, 2026

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Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.

The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme  (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.

?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter  Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.

?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”

The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.

According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.

?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.

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You Can Now Print Your Exam Slips, JAMB Tells 2026 UTME Candidates

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17 hours ago

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April 10, 2026

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.

“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.

Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.

The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.

The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.

The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.

Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.

JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.

The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.

Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.

 

 

 

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RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence

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17 hours ago

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April 10, 2026

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In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.

The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.

The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.

Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.

He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.

According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.

“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.

“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.

Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.

At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.

The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.

A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.

A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.

“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.

The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.

“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.

“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.

To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.

“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”

According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.

“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.

“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”

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