Justice Onnoghen’s conviction not to be celebrated – Wahab Shittu

A lawyer and EFCC counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, has said that
former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, might fight a
protracted legal battle against the CCT’s conviction.

Shittu had reacted to Thursday’s conviction of ex-CJN Onnoghen
of breach of code of conduct for public officers.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Code of Conduct
Tribunal chaired by Danladi Umar convicted Onnoghen, 68, and
ordered his immediate removal as the CJN.

The CCT stripped him of all offices he occupied, such as the
Chairman of the National Judicial Council and Chairman of the
Federal Judicial Service Commission.

The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of money in five
accounts which Onnoghen failed to declare as part of his
assets.

The tribunal also ordered that he should not hold any public
office for 10 years.

In an interview with NAN, Mr. Wahab Shittu, said, “I believe
that the Code of Conduct Tribunal made its own pronouncement, but
that is not the end of the matter.

“I see Onnoghen exercising his constitutional right of appeal;
the matter might be protracted and get up to the Supreme Court.

“It is a sad commentary on our judiciary, as no one should
celebrate what has happened in this situation where the Number One
judge in the country has found himself in this kind of
predicament.

“It does not call for celebration, it calls for sober reflection
and deep concern.

“I want to reserve further comments until the machinery of
justice is fully exhausted, because I feel the Court of Appeal and
Supreme Court will make further pronouncements,” Shittu said.