The Court of Appeal today cleared former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen of all allegations of false asset declaration.
In a decision delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, the court ruled that the Code of Conduct Tribunal had no authority to try Onnoghen without first consulting the National Judicial Council.
The judgment subsequently ordered the immediate return of Justice Onnoghen’s four previously frozen bank accounts and nullifies the controversial 2019 case that forced him to step down as Nigeria’s Chief Justice.
The ruling also follows a settlement agreement between the federal government and Justice Onnoghen which also acknowledged that the tribunal had no authority to try him after his voluntary retirement was accepted by the President.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, suspended Onnoghen 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.
