News Editor
By David Odama
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the 2019 conviction of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, acquitting him of charges related to false asset declaration.
The judgment, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, also mandates the immediate unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank accounts.
The acquittal is based on a settlement reached between Onnoghen’s legal team and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
The terms of the agreement formed the foundation for the appellate court’s decision.
It would be recalled that Onnoghen was removed from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari prior to the 2019 elections.
His suspension, which occurred shortly after he appointed judges for election tribunals, received unprecedented criticism by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) who described the CJN’s removal as a “coup against the judiciary.”
However, the federal government, represented by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the court to halt further hearings on Onnoghen’s appeals against his conviction, removal, and asset forfeiture.
