Justice Walter Onnoghen
* Believes Petition Discloses Collusion Between His Lordship
And Various Banks Related To Suspicious Transactions Reporting
(STR)
*Alleges Breach of Section 15 of the Code of
Conduct Bureau Act
An Anti-Corruption Group has written a petition against the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Mr. Justice W.S. Nkanu
Onnoghen, GCON, for alleged sundry breaches of the Code of Conduct
Bureau requirements for public officials including non-declaration
and false declaration of assets.
In the petition addressed to the chairman of the Code of Conduct
Bureau under the designation of the Executive Secretary/CEO of the
Group, Chief Dennis Aghanya, dated the 7th day of
January, 2019, received on the 9th day of January, 2019,
and made available to the TheNigerialawyer (TN),
the petitioners alleged that the Chief Justice is the owner of
sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by
himself, up to as recently as 10th August, 2016, which
appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial
transparency and code of conduct for public officials. Citing
examples, the petitioner stated that His lordship made five
different cash deposits of $10,000 each on 8th March,
2011 into standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650; on
7th June, 2011, two separate cash deposits of $5000 each
were made by him, followed by four cash deposits of $10,000 each;
and that on the 27th day of June, 2011, His lordship
made another set of five separate cash deposits of $10,000 each on
the following day, 28th June, 2011.
The petitioners further allege that His Lordship did not comply
with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare
their assets every four year during their career. According to the
petitioners, His Lordship has committed a breach of the Code of
Conduct Bureau Act as non-declaration of assets immediately after
taking office in several capacities prior to becoming the Chief
Justice of Nigeria contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct
Bureau Act; non-declaration of assets immediately after taking
office as Chief Justice of Nigeria; non-declaration of assets at
the statutory intervals after taking office throughout his career
as a federal judicial officer; and false declaration of assets, and
in particular, concealment of significant and declarable assets in
the form of sundry bank accounts and the balances therein, all
contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
Citing other facts and findings among others, the petitioners
informed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau that they
believe that the petition discloses cases of suspicions financial
and other transactions against His Lordship, collusion between His
Lordship and various banks related to Suspicious Transactions
Reporting (STR), and financial transactions not justifiable by His
Lordship’s lawful remuneration at all material times.
They, therefore, call on the Chairman to consider the petition
bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 General Elections and the
overwhelming roles of the Judicial Arm both before and after, and
that it is also inevitable that His Lordship is also by these acts
a likely hostage to the sources of these funds and beholden to or
generally corrupted by their clandestine interests which might
prove injurious to the judiciary.
As at the time of filing this report, TNL put a call across to
one of the aides to the CJN and he stated that they are not aware
of any such Petition or suit instituted against the CJN.
Another source also informed TNL that they are want to use this
to intimidate the CJN so that he will have nothing to do with the
forthcoming 2019 general election.
TNL is yet to get in touch with the Chairman Code of Conduct
Bureau.
Below see a copy of the petition in PDF
Format