CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
Asset Declaration: FG Asks CJN Onnoghen to Vacate
Office
…. To be Arraigned on Criminal Charges
Monday
The Federal Government has declared war against the Chief
Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
asking him to immediately vacate his exalted office as Head of the
Nation’s judiciary over alleged sundry asset declaration
issues.
In a move to force Justice Onnoghen out of office, the Federal
Government will on Monday January 14, 2019 arraigned the CJN before
the Justice Danladi Yakubu led- Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in
Abuja on charges of failures to declare his assets as required by
law and for operating Bank Domiciliary Foreign Currency
Accounts.
The charge sighted by PRNigeria against Justice Onnoghe has
already being filed and served on him last Friday at his official
residence in Abuja preparatory for his appearance at the
tribunal.
The Federal Government among others is accusing Nigeria’s Head
of the Judiciary of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the
provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
He is also being accused of maintaining Domiciliary foreign
currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling
Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to
relevant laws, especially for public office holders.
Justice Nnoghen whose appointment suffered unprecedented delay
by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues may be the
first CJN in Nigeria to be arraigned for criminal charges by the
Federal Government.
Apart from putting the Chief Justice in the dock on Monday,
PRNigeria learned that motion on notice is to be filed against him
praying the tribunal to order him to vacate office and recuse
himself office so as to prevent alleged interference in his
arraignment and trial.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria names withheld has been engaged by
Federal Government to lead the onslaught against justice Onnoghen,
while PRNigeria could not ascertain names of those who will lead
the defence team for CJN.
However, it is gathered that eminent lawyers have volunteered to
put their services at the disposal of Justice Onnoghen in the bid
to rescue him from the claws of the government.
It would be recalled the President of the Senate of Nigeria, Dr.
Bukola Saraki was in 2015 shortly he emerged the Head of the
Legislature arraigned at the tribunal but the charges against him
were quashed and he was discharged and acquitted by the tribunal on
the ground that the charges against him by government were based on
hearsay that could not stand in the face of the law.
Saraki’s discharge and acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court
under the leadership of Justice Onnoghen.
By PRNigeria