The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, of the charge that led to his removal from office in 2019.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, of the charge that led to his removal from office in 2019.
His acquittal came barely a month after the Court granted a request from him and the Federal Government to settle out of court an appeal he filed challenging his removal/dismissal from office.
The request came as both parties intensified efforts to amicably resolve the ongoing dispute.
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Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential elections, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad as his replacement.
However, President Bola Tinubu, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, persuaded the appellate court to halt further hearing of three separate appeals the former CJN filed to challenge his removal, conviction, and seizure of his assets.
In line with the terms of the settlement dated October 24, the appellate court ordered FG to, forthwith, unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
Onnoghen was dismissed by the Federal Government while standing trial for false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, resulting in his removal and the forfeiture of undeclared assets.
Dissatisfied with the Tribunal’s ruling, Onnoghen approached the Appeal Court to challenge the decision that led to his ousting and the forfeiture of his bank accounts.