CCT Convicts Onnoghen Over Non-declaration Of Assets

Walter Onnoghen, the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria has been convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), today.

This is coming weeks after Mr Onnoghen who was accused of failing to declare some assets traced to him tendered his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari had suspended the top jurist after the latter admitted to have committed the offence traced to him but claimed not to be guilty when arraigned at the CCT by the Federal Government through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Reading out it judgement, the tribunal headed by its chairman, Danladi Umar, found Onnoghen guilty of the offence and invoked the full provision of Section 23 of the code of conduct law which allows it to remove Mr Onnoghen from office.

After claiming to have jurisdiction over the matter without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the tribunal also ordered that Mr Onnoghen should not return to the office in the next ten years.

The NJC is the judicial body meant to constitutionally investigate allegedĀ  misconduct against its members and make recommendations where necessary.

The body after querying Onnoghen and hearing from him recommended he be sent on a compulsory retirement. It also asked that Tanko Mohammed, the acting CJN be duely appointed to oversee the affairs of the third arm of government.

Mr Buhari although has received the recommendation is yet to act on it as at press time.