CJN’s trial: Onnoghen opens defence, calls driver as 1st witness

The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has called his driver, Mr. Lawal Busari, as his first defence witness in his trial on charges of false and non-declaration of assets ongoing before the code of conduct tribunal in Abuja.

Mr. Busari, who was led by Mr. Onnoghen’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), described how he drove the suspended CJN to the office of the Code of Conduct Bureau, on July 28, 2010, to obtain the assets declaration form.

He said he paid the sum of N200 for Onnoghen’s assets declaration on 3^rd of November, 2010.

Mr. Awomolo sought to tender the receipt as an exhibit but the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), objected to the admissibility of the document, saying the revenue number did not appear on the receipt.

Mr. Umar also added that the driver, not being the maker of the document, was not the right person to tender it.

The CCT overruled the prosecution and admitted the receipt as an exhibit.