The Federal Government has applied for the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to step aside.

Counsel to the government, Mr Aliu Umar, made the submission on Tuesday at the resumed sitting of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had dragged the CJN before the tribunal over allegations of failing to declare his assets.

Aliyu informed the tribunal that his application asking Justice Onnoghen to step aside was not aimed at removing him as the CJN and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He explained that the application was filed to excuse the judge from the duties of a CJN to enable him defend himself before the tribunal.

•Excerpted from a Channels TV report