By Abiola Olawale
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has agreed to a proposal from the Federal Government and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen regarding an out-of-court resolution.
The appellate court granted the proposal after the two parties agreed to intensify efforts to reach an amicable settlement of all issues in dispute.
The legal counsel to Onnoghen, Dr Ogwu James Onoja, informed a 3-man panel of justices of the Appeal Court at Thursday’s proceedings.
Onoja told the court that his client is having discussions with the Federal Government on a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
He subsequently appealed to the appellate court for a one-month adjournment for final settlement of the matter.
In his address, the legal counsel for the Federal Government, Tijani Gazali, corroborated the submission of Onoja and requested that the matter be shifted forward for a possible amicable settlement.
In a brief remark, Justice J. O. Oyewole directed them to file terms of settlement for adoption when eventually agreed upon.
Justice Oyewole held that the terms of settlement must be documented and filed before the adjourned date for the court to adopt, as its judgement in the matter.
He subsequently fixed November 4 as the return date for the two parties.
It would be recalled that in April 2019, a three-member panel of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) led by Danladi Umar, chairman of the tribunal at the time, convicted Onnoghen on six counts bordering on false assets declaration and ordered that he be removed from office.
The panel also banned the former CJN from holding public office for 10 years.
The CCT ordered forfeiture of monies in five bank accounts, which the defendant was said to have failed to declare as part of his assets.
Aggrieved by the judgment, Onnoghen filed an appeal marked CA/ABJ/375 & 376 & 377/2019, praying for the court to void and set aside the CCT’s judgment delivered against him on April 18, 2019, on various grounds.
