The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen of a false assets declaration offence for which he was convicted and removed from office by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The CCT had, in its judgment, that false assets declaration charges slammed against Onnoghen by the Federal Government also ordered seizures of the five bank accounts by the Federal Government.
A three-member panel of Justices of the Appellate court, in a judgement on Monday which was based on the terms of settlement reached in the matter between the Federal Government and the former CJN, set aside the decisions of the CCT.
According to the appellate court, “Judgment is entered in the appeal as per terms of settlement between the appellant and the respondent” and ordered that all the bank accounts and assets seized from the former CJN be restored back to him immediately.
Onnoghen was prosecuted in 2019 by the federal government on false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, found guilty and removed from office. He was also made to forfeit the undeclared assets to the federal government.
In his appeal, the former CJN pleaded with the Court to set aside the judgement of the CCT that removed him from office and ordered the forfeiture of his five bank accounts.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had, in 2019 removed Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria during the pendency of a charge against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
