The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen of charges that led to his 2019 removal from office.
Justice Onnoghen was suspended on January 25, 2019, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, 29 days before the presidential election. Following his suspension, Justice Tanko Muhammad, the next most senior Supreme Court jurist, was sworn in as CJN.
The recent decision came after President Bola Tinubu, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the appellate court to halt further hearings on three appeals that Onnoghen had filed challenging his removal, conviction, and asset seizure.
Under the terms of a settlement reached on October 24, the court has ordered the federal government to immediately unfreeze Onnoghen’s account with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.
Further details to follow.
