Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, is set to resume his legal proceedings against the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) judgment that led to his removal from office in 2019. The legal action will be heard on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Justice Onnoghen, represented by his lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, is challenging the CCT’s decision on several grounds, including lack of jurisdiction, bias, and absence of a fair hearing. He is seeking to have the Court of Appeal annul the CCT’s judgment, which led to his conviction and removal from office as CJN on April 18, 2019.
In 2019, the CCT convicted Onnoghen on all six counts of breaching the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, resulting in his removal as Chief Justice, forfeiture of his assets, and revocation of his positions as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC). Onnoghen has consistently maintained that the CCT lacked jurisdiction over his case, arguing that only the NJC had the authority to discipline a serving judicial officer like himself.
Onnoghen’s appeal, designated CA/ABJ/375 & 376 & 377/2019, includes a request for the Court of Appeal to set aside his conviction, quash the order for forfeiture of his assets, and discharge him of all charges. He contends that the CCT’s Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, should have recused himself from the proceedings due to bias, and that the Tribunal erred in law by dismissing his application challenging its jurisdiction.
The former CJN also disputes the CCT’s findings, stating that the assets in question were legitimately acquired and should not have been seized. He further argued that the prosecution failed to present key witnesses, including the petitioner, Denis Aghanya, whose complaint led to the charges against him.
As Justice Onnoghen seeks to clear his name and restore his reputation, the outcome of this appeal will have significant implications for the judiciary and the interpretation of the law regarding the jurisdiction of the CCT over serving judicial officers.
