Appeal Court Acquits Former CJN Onnoghen, Orders Unfreezing of Accounts

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen of his conviction for false asset declaration.

A three-member panel, led by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, ruled that the Code of Conduct Tribunal lacked jurisdiction in the case. The court ordered the immediate unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank accounts.

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The ruling follows a settlement agreement reached between Onnoghen’s legal team and the Attorney General’s office.

The court found that judicial officers cannot be tried by the tribunal without first involving the National Judicial Council (NJC) and noted that Onnoghen’s voluntary retirement letter, accepted by the government, further invalidated the tribunal’s actions.

Following the ruling, Onnoghen’s lead counsel highlighted the decision as a significant shift in the judiciary, emphasizing that the previous administration overstepped its bounds by removing Onnoghen without proper consultation with the NJC.