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The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen has been discharged and acquitted of allegations of false asset declaration by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

In a judgement delivered on Monday, the Appeal Court overturned the conviction of the former Code of Conduct Tribunal, led by Justice Danladi Umar which found Onnoghen guilty of false asset declaration in April 2019.

The conviction also led to his dismissal from office.

In its judgement, the Appeal Court presided by Justice Abba Mohammed ordered that four accounts previously mandated to be forfeited to the Federal Government be returned to Onnoghen.

According to the appellate court, the CCT lacks the jurisdiction to have tried and even convicted the Justice after he had tendered his voluntary retirement letter which unconditionally accepted by the President at the time.

It noted that the terms of settlement were voluntarily entered into by the parties.