Onnoghen: BVN Reveals More Accounts — Report

* Detectives write three banks
* Battle shifts to court on Monday
* Anxiety over restriction of Onnoghen’s movement
* Tight security in Supreme Court judges’ quarters

A Bank Verification Number (BVN) search may have exposed more
accounts linked to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),
Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Detectives are understood to have written three banks for
details of the alleged accounts of the suspended CJN.

The banks are Standard Chartered Bank, Union Bank and Heritage
Bank, according to a preliminary report on the activities of
Onnoghen by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and
other agencies.

The CJN is accused of false declaration of assets. A six-count
charge has been filed against him.

Further investigation into Onnoghen’s accounts notwithstanding,
the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European
Commission (EU) yesterday urged caution on the part of the federal
government in its handling of his case.

The US called for due process to be followed in the matter while
UK faulted the timing of the suspension.

Sources knowledgeable about the investigation of Onnoghen’s
finances revealed to The Nation,not TheNigerialawyer yesterday the
turn-over in the alleged accounts of the CJN as follows:

USD account from October, 2012 to September, 2016 —
$1,922,657.00
GBP (£) account from 2012 to September, 2016 — £138, 439.00
Euro account as at September 30, 2016 — €55,154.00
Naira account from September, 2005 to October, 2016 — N91,
962.362.49
A document sighted by The Nation correspondent states: “Upon
receipt of the report, a preliminary investigation was conducted
during which the following actions were carried out:

“A request was sent to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit
(NFIU) for a report on the suspect.

“A letter of investigation activities was sent to Standard
Chartered Bank, Union Bank and Heritage Bank to provide the
statements of accounts of the suspect;

“A BVN search through the NIBSS platform was conducted on the
suspect and six (6) more accounts were found to be linked or
connected to the suspect;

“The statements of accounts of the suspect were analyzed and
further to that, a letter was written to Standard Chartered Bank
requesting for additional information on suspicious activities in
the account.”

There was anxiety yesterday over alleged restriction on the
movement of Justice Onnoghen.

Security was tightened at the official quarters of the Justices
of the Supreme Court.

Journalists were turned back from gaining access to the quarters
in the three arms zone.

A reliable security source said: “Yes, the security around the
quarters was enhanced but I doubt your insinuation of restriction
of movement of the CJN.

“With the tension generated by the suspension of the CJN,
security agencies are only taking pre-emptive action to prevent the
judges from harm.”

There were also strong indications last night the battle over
Onnoghen’s fate would shift to the court tomorrow.

A counsel in the defence team of the CJN said: “We will go to
court to challenge the illegal suspension of His Lordship.

“We hope the Federal Government will respect any court order
reinstating the CJN. Anything otherwise is a judicial anarchy.”