By Nurat Uthman
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of the Umar Danladi tribunal, which found a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, guilty of false asset declaration.
The appellate court in a judgment, discharged and acquitted Onnoghen from the conviction delivered against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The conviction, which was delivered on April 18, 2019, was dismissed following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.
Justice Abba Mohammed, who predicated the judgment on the terms of settlement by the Federal Government and Onnoghen, ordered that the four bank accounts previously ordered to be forfeited be returned to him.
Shortly after the judgment, Counsel to Onnoghen and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo, thanked President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi for ensuring the resolutions of the issue.
