The Court of Appeal in Abuja has made a landmark decision, discharging and acquitting former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, of his conviction for false asset declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal . This verdict overturns Onnoghen’s conviction, which was handed down on April 18, 2019, by the Umar Yakubu Danladi tribunal.
Onnoghen’s suspension and subsequent conviction were highly controversial, with many viewing it as a coup against the judiciary. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had suspended Onnoghen from office in January 2019, just 29 days before the presidential election, and swore in Justice Tanko Muhammad as the acting CJN ¹. This move was met with widespread criticism from the Nigerian Bar Association and other judicial circles.
The Appeal Court’s decision was based on a settlement agreement between the federal government and Onnoghen. Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, leading a three-man panel, ordered that Onnoghen’s four bank accounts, previously forfeited, be returned to him ¹. This judgment brings closure to a protracted legal battle that has lasted for over five years.
Onnoghen’s lawyers, Adegboyega Awomolo SAN and Ogwu James Onoja SAN, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for ensuring the resolution of the issue. Their statement highlights the significance of this verdict, which not only clears Onnoghen’s name but also underscores the importance of judicial independence.
This decision is a significant development in Nigeria’s judicial history, emphasizing the need for fairness and due process in the administration of justice.
