On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja annulled the 2019 conviction of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, overturning the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) ruling that found him guilty of false asset declaration. Justice Abba Mohammed, who delivered the appellate court’s judgment, discharged and acquitted Onnoghen, citing a settlement between the Federal Government and Onnoghen as the basis for the decision.
The appellate court’s ruling also included a directive for the return of four previously forfeited bank accounts to Onnoghen, which had been seized under the initial judgment.
Onnoghen’s legal journey began with a six-count charge filed by the CCT in January 2019, which he contested by challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction. As a judicial officer, Onnoghen argued, any complaints against him should have been reviewed first by the National Judicial Council (NJC) before being brought before the tribunal. During his trial, Onnoghen also sought to disqualify the CCT chairman, alleging bias.
The terms of the settlement, voluntarily reached by both parties, emphasized that the CCT lacked jurisdiction over the matter without NJC’s prior involvement, consistent with previous court decisions on judicial conduct. The appellate court also noted that the tribunal’s actions were invalidated by Onnoghen’s voluntary retirement, which was accepted by the President of Nigeria before the trial concluded.
With the appellate court’s decision, Onnoghen’s conviction is officially overturned, reinstating his rights and assets and reinforcing the protocol of NJC oversight in cases involving judicial officers.
