By Abiola Olawale
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has formally discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen of a lingering conviction for false declaration of assets, a judgment previously rendered by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The appellate court annulled the conviction of Onnoghen, while also addressing the underlying issues that resulted in his trial and subsequent conviction.
In delivering the judgment, Presiding Justice Abba Mohammed endorsed the terms of a settlement reached between the federal government and Onnoghen.
He also ordered that the four bank accounts of the former CJN he forfeited be returned to him.
The New Diplomat reports that former President Muhammadu Buhari had, on January 25, 2019, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.
Onnoghen’s suspension came barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges who would preside over election petition tribunals.
Onnoghen was later convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on a six-count corruption charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Government.
It was alleged that he made a false declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
