Our reporter
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has exonerated former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, from charges of false asset declaration. This decision overturns the 2019 judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which convicted Onnoghen, leading to his suspension, removal, and asset forfeiture.
The acquittal comes after a settlement between the federal government and Onnoghen, formally endorsed by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed. The court ordered the unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank accounts, which had been frozen since 2019.
The unanimous judgment acknowledged that the CCT should have referred the case to the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is constitutionally authorized to oversee disciplinary issues involving judicial officers.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, and Onnoghen’s legal team, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, SAN, finalised the settlement terms, underscoring a commitment to upholding the independence of Nigeria’s judiciary.
Justice Onnoghen’s lead counsel, Awomolo, praised the ruling as a significant restoration of judicial integrity and a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s constitutional independence. He emphasised that the events leading to Onnoghen’s removal had cast a shadow over public trust in the judiciary.
“Today’s decision is a victory not just for Justice Onnoghen but for the judiciary’s honor and independence,” Awomolo remarked. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney General for supporting the judiciary’s role as an impartial and independent institution within Nigeria’s democracy.
The ruling resonates as a milestone for judicial independence in Nigeria, restoring faith in the impartiality of the judiciary while setting a precedent against undue interference by other branches of government.
