Appeal Court discharges, acquits ex-CJN Onnoghen of false assets declaration conviction

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, from his conviction for false asset declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Onnoghen’s conviction, handed down on April 18, 2019, by the Umar Yakubu Danladi tribunal, was overturned by the Appellate Court following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction.

Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, in a judgment based on the terms of settlement adopted by the federal government and Onnoghen, ordered that the four bank accounts previously ordered to be forfeited be returned to him.

In a brief statement, Onnoghen’s lawyers, Adegboyega Awomolo and Ogwu James Onoja, 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.