Former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen Acquitted by Court of Appeal, Asset Forfeiture Reversed

The former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, has been cleared by the Court of Appeal in Abuja of his previous conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false asset declaration.

The Appellate Court overturned the conviction issued by the tribunal led by Umar Yakubu Danladi on April 18, 2019, following a resolution of issues that had led to Onnoghen’s prosecution. Justice Abba Bello Mohammed of the Court of Appeal ruled, in line with the settlement terms between Onnoghen and the federal government, that the four bank accounts previously ordered to be forfeited should be returned to him.

Onnoghen’s legal representatives, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboyega Awomolo and Ogwu James Onoja, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in a brief statement for facilitating the settlement.