False declaration of assets: Appeal Court acquits former CJN Onnoghen
Former CJN, Walter Onnoghen
Published By: Paul Dada
By Paul Dada
A panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja has acquitted and discharged former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, who was convicted of false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The judgement of the appellate court over the matter was handed down on Monday, following the terms of settlement adopted by the Federal Government and Onnoghen.
Based on the terms of settlement, the Appeal Court ordered that the four bank accounts which the CCT had ordered forfeited by Onnoghen been restored to him
The CCT tribunal chaired by Justice Umar Yakubu Danladi had on April 18, 2019, convicted the ex- CJN of false declaration of assets.
Before then former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2019, suspended Onnoghen from office based on the allegation made against him. He replaced him with Justice Tanko Muhammad.
Following the Appeal Court verdict on Monday, lawyers to Onnoghen Adegboyega Awomolo and Ogwu James Onoja, who are both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi for making sure the matter was resolved.
