Court Acquits Former CJN Onnoghen of Non-Declaration of Assets

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen who was accused of false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The appellate court in a judgment overturned the conviction of the Umar Danladi tribunal, on Monday, November 4, 2024.           

Justice Abba Mohammed ruled on the settlement terms between the Federal Government and Justice Onnoghen, ordering the return of four bank accounts that had been previously forfeited.

In 2017, the Chief Justice of Nigeria was accused of asset declaration offences by the government following a raid on the homes of judges and Supreme Court justices in an anti-corruption operation.

According to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Onnoghen did not declare several bank accounts, held in both local and foreign currencies, associated with him at a Standard Chartered Bank branch in Abuja.

Consequently, the government filed six charges of non and fraudulent declaration of assets by Mr Onnoghen.