The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, will on Monday appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges bordering on non declaration of asset.
This is contained in a statement by the Head, Press & Public Relations, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Ibraheem Al-Hassan, Saturday.
The statement said that the arraignment of Onneghen followed an application by the Code of Conduct Bureau for leave to commence the case.
He said the application was filed on Friday and summons for the Monday’s proceedings had been served on the CJN.
All the six counts preferred against the CJN are said to border on non-declaration of assets.
The CCT’s statement read in part: “The Code of Conduct Tribunal has scheduled Monday, January 14, 2019 for the commencement of trial against current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justce Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel for alleged non-declaration of assets.
“This was consequent to an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau to the CCT Chairman yesterday (Friday) for the trial to commence against the Chief Justice of Nigeria on six charges.
“However, service of summons has been effected to the defendant.
“The three-man panel led by Justice Danladi Y. Umar, will commence the trial on Monday, January 14, 2019 at its courtroom, situated at the headquarter, along Jabi Daki biyu, Saloman Lar way, Abuja, at 10:00am.
“The application was filed yesterday by the operatives of CCB, dated January 11, 2019 and signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman (Esq) and Fatima Danjuma Ali (Esq), containing six charges all bordering on non-declaration of assets”
A lawyer and investigator attached to the Code of Conduct Bureau, Usman Mohammed, said Onnoghen failed to declare his dollar, pounds and euro accounts when he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
In his statement, which has been attached to the charge sheet, the witness said investigations began after a Non-Governmental Organisation, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, wrote a petition against the CJN.
The statement of the witness reads in part: “That the respondent (Onnoghen) also operates three domiciliary and two naira accounts with Standard Chartered Bank Limited with the following particulars.
“Domiciliary account number: 870001062650 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.
“Domiciliary account number: 9300106268bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 285001062679 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 5001062683 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen
“Domiciliary account number: 0100010626667 bearing the name Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen.”
The investigator said investigations revealed that since 2005 when Onnoghen was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he did not declare his assets until 2016 when he was appointed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The statement added: “That in 2016 declarations, the five domiciliary accounts were omitted. We proceeded to request the account details from Standard Chartered Bank Limited.
“The bank undertook to provide us with the opening form and provided us with statements of accounts.
“Investigations have been concluded and the facts revealed indict the defendant and consequently the file has been forwarded to the department of legal services for further necessary action.”
Justice Onnoghen on March 7, 2017, took his oath of office and allegiance before Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to become the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Onnoghen was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 10, 2016 as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Following the constitutional provisions, Onnoghen’s name was sent to the Senate on February 7, 2017, by Acting President Osinbajo for confirmation
By his confirmation by the Senate, Onnoghen who hails from Cross River State became the 17th Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He had pledged to uphold the rule of law and ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Onnoghen is the 20th person to occupy the position since 1914, according to judiciary records.
Sixty-seven year-old Walter Samuel Onnoghen has been a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria since 2005.
