Just in: Appeal Court acquits ex-CJN, Onnoghen, orders FG to unfreeze his account

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, of the charge that led to his removal from office in 2019.

Persecondnews recalls that former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.

His suspension came barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges who would preside over election petition tribunals.

Buhari’s action elicited varied reactions from within and outside the judicial circles, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) describing it as a coup against the judiciary.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) later found Onnoghen guilty of the six corruption charges the Federal Government had brought against him.

The Code of Conduct Bureau accused Onnoghen of making a false declaration of his assets.

However, about six years after he was convicted, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed Bello, acquitted the ex-CJN following a settlement agreement the federal government entered with him.

President Bola Tinubu had, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), persuaded the appellate court to halt further hearings of the three separate appeals the former CJN filed to challenge his removal, conviction, and seizure of his assets.

In line with the terms of the settlement dated October 24, the appellate court ordered FG to, forthwith, unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.

Details shortly…