In a significant legal turn, the Court of Appeal has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen of the charges brought against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) regarding alleged non-declaration of assets.
The court’s ruling overturns the CCT’s previous conviction, which had led to Onnoghen’s controversial removal from office in 2019.
The decision also mandates the federal government to unfreeze Onnoghen’s bank accounts with Standard Chartered Bank, which had been frozen following his ousting.
The accounts were seized as part of the disciplinary measures during the period when the former CJN faced charges of failing to declare his assets in line with Nigeria’s Code of Conduct regulations.
Crucially, the appellate court upheld a settlement agreement reached between Justice Onnoghen and the federal government.
In this negotiated resolution, both parties agreed to end the protracted legal dispute, a move that Counsel for the Federal Government, Tijani Gazali, supported and adopted in court.
Justice Onnoghen’s trial had stirred national debate when it first emerged, as it was perceived by some as politically charged.
His removal, just months before the 2019 general elections, was criticized by civil society groups, legal experts, and opposition parties, who argued that the judicial system was under political pressure.
However, federal authorities maintained that the case was strictly a matter of upholding integrity in public office.
This acquittal marks the end of a long and contentious chapter for the former Chief Justice, who has consistently claimed that his prosecution was unjust and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling not only restores Onnoghen’s legal standing but also represents a symbolic victory for advocates of judicial independence.