The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the conviction of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, on charges of false assets declaration.
In 2019, Onnoghen was removed from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari while facing charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The tribunal, led by Umar Yakubu Danladi, convicted Onnoghen on all six counts and ordered the forfeiture of his bank accounts. However, the Appeal Court has now struck down this conviction, citing the tribunal’s failure to follow constitutional procedures.
Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, leading a three-man panel, ordered the unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank accounts at Standard Chartered Bank in Abuja.
The accounts had been frozen since 2019. The terms of settlement were agreed upon by Onnoghen, his lawyers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN and Dr. Ogwu James Onoja SAN, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN.
Onnoghen’s lawyers expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney General for upholding the constitution and the rule of law. “The decision of the Court of Appeal delivered this morning is historical and very significant… It restored the dignity, honor, and integrity of Honourable Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen,” Awomolo said.
They emphasized the importance of judicial independence, stating, “The Judiciary remains the foundational structure, the bulwark upon which Nigeria’s Constitutional democracy rests. Nigerians must be encouraged to have confidence and trust in the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the judiciary.”
Onnoghen had appealed the conviction, arguing that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction and that the chairman, Danladi Umar, was biased. He maintained that the assets in question were legitimately acquired and that the prosecution failed to present key evidence.
