The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen of the charges that led to his removal from office in 2019.
The ruling, issued on Monday, discharges Onnoghen from the six-count corruption charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
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Onnoghen was suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 25, 2019, just weeks before the presidential election.
His suspension followed an announcement that he would inaugurate judges for election petition tribunals, leading to significant controversy.
The Nigerian Bar Association criticized Buhari’s actions, labeling them a coup against the judiciary.
Following his suspension, Onnoghen was convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegedly making false declarations to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Nearly six years later, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Justice Mohammed Bello, acquitted Onnoghen as part of a settlement agreement reached with the federal government.
President Bola Tinubu, through Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, requested the appellate court to pause hearings on three appeals filed by Onnoghen regarding his removal, conviction, and asset seizure.
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As part of the settlement terms dated October 24, the court ordered the federal government to immediately unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
