CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
CJN Justice Walter Onnoghen
Onnoghen: CCT Fixes Thursday for Judgement
After three months trial, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, has
fixed Thursday April 18 to give judgment in the six-count charge of
false asset declaration brought against the suspended Chief Justice
of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen by the Federal
Government.
Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar who announced the
date of judgment also disclosed that rulings will be delivered on
the same date in the two motions earlier filed by Onnoghen in which
he challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal and and, also
praying that the tribunal chairman should recuse himself from the
trial on account of bias.
At the adoption of final addresses by Onnoghen’s counsel, Okon
Nkanu, SAN, and prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar, Danladi announced
that judgment and ruling would be delivered simultaneously on that
fateful day.
While adopting his final address, Onnoghen’s counsel prayed the
tribunal to dismiss the six-count charges against his client on the
grounds that the prosecution failed to prove the essential
ingredients of the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Also, Nkanu argued that false declaration of asset charge
against Onnoghen was unknown to law because it was not clearly
defined by the constitution.
He added that for the prosecution to succeed, the elements of
each count in the six-count charge must be well established and its
absence, the tribunal under the law must rule in favour of the
defendant.
The counsel particularly faulted the claim of the prosecution
that Onnoghen made partial asset declaration, adding that the claim
establishes the fact that Onnoghen declared his asset and that if
it was done, it raises doubts that must be resolved in favour of
the defendant.
Nkanu further told the Danladi Umar-led tribunal that from the
asset declaration form of Onnoghen which was admitted by the
tribunal as exhibit, was clear that the claims of Onnoghen were not
verified by the CCB as required by law and, therefore, the charges
against his client were based on hearsay.
The defence counsel, therefore, prayed the tribunal to dismiss
the entire charges, discharge and aquit Onnoghen from the alleged
offences.
In his adoption, the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar informed
the tribunal that all the essential ingredients of the charges have
been proved beyond all reasonable doubts and prayed the tribunal to
uphold his submission.
The counsel insisted that the defendant did not declare his
asset between 2005 to 2015. And added that when he did so on
December 14, 2016, five bank accounts with Standard chartered bank
opened between 2009 and 2011 were not declared.
He, therefore, urged the tribunal to hold that the prosecution
has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
It would be recalled that the Federal government had on January
11, filed a six-count charge bordering on false and non-
declaration of asset against Onnoghen at the tribunal which
culminated in his suspension from office by President Muhammadu
Buhari.
By PRNigeria