Sacked CJN Onnoghen Launches Major Comeback

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, is set to resume his legal battle against the 2019 judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) that led to his removal from office.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Onnoghen’s appeal, which has been pending since April 2019, seeks to overturn the CCT’s decision. Through his lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Onnoghen argues that his conviction should be quashed due to lack of jurisdiction, bias, and the absence of a fair hearing. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the sole respondent in the case.

The CCT had convicted Onnoghen on April 18, 2019, on six counts of breaching the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, resulting in his removal from office as CJN, as well as the loss of his positions as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission. The tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of Onnoghen’s five bank accounts, which were not declared in his asset declaration forms.

Despite his suspension on January 25, 2019, and subsequent resignation on April 4, the tribunal still ordered his removal from all official positions. Dissatisfied with the CCT’s ruling, Onnoghen appealed to the Court of Appeal, presenting 16 grounds for why his conviction should be overturned.

Among his arguments, Onnoghen contends that the CCT erred in law by assuming jurisdiction over a sitting judicial officer, a power reserved solely for the NJC. He also argued that the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, should have recused himself due to alleged bias.

Onnoghen is seeking an order to set aside his conviction, quash the forfeiture of his assets, and discharge him of all charges. He maintains that the allegations against him do not constitute an offense and should not have led to his conviction.