BREAKING: Appeal Court Acquits Former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen on Asset Declaration Charges

By Iyojo Ameh

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the 2019 conviction of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, acquitting him of charges related to false asset declaration.

This judgment, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, also mandates the immediate unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank accounts.

The acquittal is based on a settlement reached between Onnoghen’s legal team and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

The terms of this agreement reportedly served as the foundation for the appellate court’s decision.

Recall that Onnoghen was booted out of office by former President Muhammadu Buhari just before the 2019 elections.

His suspension, which occurred shortly after he appointed judges for election tribunals, was strongly criticized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as a “coup against the judiciary.”

However, the federal government, represented by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the court to halt further hearings on Onnoghen’s appeals against his conviction, removal, and asset forfeiture.