Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, has resumed his legal battle at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the 2019 judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that led to his removal from office.
The case, which resurfaced on Tuesday, revolves around Onnoghen’s conviction by the CCT on charges of failing to declare his assets, an offense that ultimately resulted in his suspension and eventual dismissal as the head of Nigeria’s judiciary.
Onnoghen’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adegboyega Awomolo, is arguing that the CCT lacked the jurisdiction to try him in the first place, asserting that the tribunal disregarded multiple court orders that had previously halted the trial.
They are urging the Court of Appeal to void and set aside the CCT’s judgment, highlighting that the ex parte order, which facilitated Onnoghen’s suspension, was issued without his being formally arraigned. Additionally, the appeal questions the impartiality of the CCT chairperson, arguing that they should have recused themselves from the case due to potential bias.
This appeal marks another chapter in Onnoghen’s ongoing legal struggles, following his unsuccessful attempts in 2019 to challenge his suspension and removal through various legal channels.
The CCT had convicted Onnoghen on all six counts of breaching the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, a verdict that mandated his immediate removal as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
For more background on the initial events leading to this appeal, you can read a related news article on Legallinkz.
