The Court of Appeal has acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, of false asset declaration charges. Initially convicted in 2019, Onnoghen's conviction was overturned after a settlement with the federal government. The court ordered the return of his forfeited bank accounts, restoring his reputation.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, of the conviction for false asset declaration imposed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Onnoghen was initially convicted on April 18, 2019, by a tribunal led by Umar Yakubu Danladi.
The Appellate Court ruled in favor of Onnoghen after addressing the underlying issues that resulted in his trial and conviction. Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, who delivered the judgment, confirmed the adoption of a settlement agreement between Onnoghen and the federal government. As part of this ruling, he ordered the return of four bank accounts that had been previously forfeited.
Onnoghen's legal representatives, Senior Advocates of Nigeria Adegboyega Awomolo and Ogwu James Onoja, expressed their appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation for facilitating the resolution of the case. This acquittal marks a significant moment for Onnoghen, who had faced serious allegations regarding his financial conduct during his tenure as the head of the Nigerian judiciary.
