The Court of Appeal in Abuja has exonerated former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen of charges that led to his removal from office in 2019.
The Appeal court also ordered the Federal Government to immediately unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
On January 25, 2019, just 29 days before the presidential election, former President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen as Chief Justice and appointed Justice Tanko Muhammad, the next most senior Supreme Court judge, to lead the judiciary.
Onnoghen’s suspension came shortly after he announced the inauguration of judges to oversee election petition tribunals. This action provoked significant reactions, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemning it as a coup against the judiciary.
Subsequently, Onnoghen was convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on six counts of corruption brought against him by the Federal Government. He was accused of making a false declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Six years after his conviction, a six-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed Bello, acquitted the former CJN.
This followed a settlement between him and the Federal Government.
President Bola Tinubu, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the appellate court to halt the proceedings on three separate appeals filed by Onnoghen challenging his removal, conviction, and asset seizure.
As per the terms of the settlement dated October 24, the appellate court has directed the federal government to immediately unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
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