Hon. Justice W.S. Nkanu Onnoghen GCON
The Attorney General of the Federal, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN,
has written a letter to the Director, Nigerian Financial
Intelligence Unit, requesting the Unit to freeze the account of the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen,
pending the conclusion of the investigation of the charges against
him, and his subsequent prosecution.
In a letter seen by Nairalaw, the office of the
attorney-general of the federation said the restriction should be
in place pending the determination of the case against Onnoghen at
the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The demand was based on the Presidential Executive order No. 6
enacted on July 5, 2018.
His targeted accounts are with at Standard Chartered Bank.
“I am directed by Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Honourable
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to
request that you, pursuant to the Presidential Executive Order No.
6 of 2018, forthwith restrict normal banking operations on certain
accounts belonging to Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen pending final
determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT/ABJ/1/19,” read the letter signed by Abiodun Aikomo
on behalf of Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the
federation.
“These accounts are as follows:
a. Account No. 5001062686 (Euro) Standard Chartered Bank (SCB)
b. Account No 5001062679 (Pound Sterling) SCB
c. Account No 0001062650 (Dollar) SCB
d. Account No 0001062667 (Naira) SCB, and
e Account No 5000162693 (Naira)
“Please accept the assurances of the esteem of the honourable
attorney general of the federation and minister of justice.”
The Code of Conduct Bureau had filed a six-count charge of false
assets declaration against Onnoghen after a petition by the
Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI).
He was to be arraigned at the tribunal on Monday but he failed
to appear while the case was adjourned till January 22.
The national industrial court had restrained Danladi Umar,
chairman of the tribunal, from going ahead to hear the case against
the CJN pending the determination of a motion filed by one Peter
Abang.
The Buhari administration has been under severe criticism since
the report broke on Saturday.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the
All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of intimidating the
judiciary ahead of the elections.
Earlier on Wednesday, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo broke his
silence on the allegations levelled against the CJN, saying he he
felt sad when he learnt of the attempt to arraign the nation’s
number five citizen.