The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, overturning the 2019 ruling that led to his removal from office.
Onnoghen was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2019, just weeks before the presidential election.
The decision to suspend him came hours after he planned to inaugurate judges for election petition tribunals.
Following his suspension, Justice Tanko Muhammad was appointed as the new CJN, a move that drew criticism, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) labeling it a “coup against the judiciary.”
Onnoghen was subsequently convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on six corruption charges, including allegations of false asset declarations submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Six years later, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Justice Mohammed Bello, has acquitted Onnoghen.
This decision follows a settlement reached between the federal government and the former CJN.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the court to discontinue three appeals filed by Onnoghen, challenging his removal, conviction, and asset seizure.
As part of the settlement agreement dated October 24, the appellate court instructed the federal government to immediately unfreeze Onnoghen’s bank account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
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