Nigeria’s code of conduct tribunal on Thursday convicted former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, on charges of false assets declaration. The tribunal has removed the country’s chief justice from the bench and banned him from holding public office for 10 years.
Onnoghen has been found guilty of not declaring his bank accounts in line with the code for public officials, tribunal Chairman Danladi Umar held in a landmark ruling in the capital city Abuja.
“The tribunal has examined the exhibits and the testimonies of the witnesses and found the defendant guilty of breach of the code of conduct for public officers,” Umar ruled, reported BBC.
The code of conduct bureau had slapped a six-count charge against Onnoghen. He had denied wrongdoing.
President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen in January after he was accused of official corruption, including failing to declare his assets. Although the removal of the chief justice usually requires the approval of two-thirds of the Senate, Buhari did not follow that process. The suspension was announced just weeks before a presidential election that prompted allegations of interference in judicial matters.
Onnoghen reportedly failed to divulge cash in five foreign bank accounts in contravention of rules governing the declaration of assets by public officials.
“The defendant has clearly contravened the code of conduct for public officers, and he is hereby convicted,” said Umar.
He ordered that any cash found in Onnoghen’s foreign bank accounts will be taken by the treasury.
“The money in the five accounts, which the defendant has failed to declare and disclose its source, is hereby confiscated, seized and forfeited to the federal government,” Umar said.
Commenting on the court’s ruling, Onnoghen’s lawyer, Okon Efut, said the process had not been fair.
He called Onnoghen’s suspension as unconstitutional, claiming it was the first step in what he said was a premeditated decision.
“Judgment had been passed before today,” Efut said.
Onnoghen is yet to comment on the tribunal’s ruling.
