BREAKING: Court of Appeal acquits ex-CJN Walter Onnoghen

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, overturning his 2019 conviction.

The former CJN had been removed from office on corruption charges, which led to his suspension by then-President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the 2019 presidential election.

Onnoghen’s suspension, which occurred just hours after he announced the inauguration of election tribunal judges, was met with widespread criticism.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the action as a “coup against the judiciary.”

Subsequently, Onnoghen was convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on charges of false declaration of assets.

After nearly six years, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed Bello, ruled to discharge and acquit Onnoghen following a settlement agreement facilitated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The federal government, through Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, persuaded the court to cease further hearings on appeals Onnoghen filed challenging his conviction, removal, and asset seizure.

Under the terms of the October 24 settlement, the court directed the unfreezing of Onnoghen’s bank account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.

More to come.