Asset Declaration: FG Directs CJN Onnoghen To Vacate Office

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 …May be arraigned at the CCT on Monday

 BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Federal Government has extended its fangs against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, ordering him to vacate his office as Head of the Nations judicial arm of government over alleged sundry asset declaration issues.

As part of the moves aimed at forcing Justice Onnoghen out of office, the Federal Government has concluded plans to arraign Justice Onnoghen on Monday January 14, 2019 before the Justice Danladi Yakubu-led Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja on charges of failure to declare his assets as required by law.

Justice Onneghen is also being accused of allegedly operating Domiciliary Foreign Currency Bank Accounts.

It was gathered that the Federal Government on Friday filed the charges against the CJN and served him with the charges at his official residence in Abuja ahead of his appearance at the tribunal.

The government among others is accusing Justice Onneghen of refusal to declare his assets in breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act as well as operating a Domiciliary foreign currencies account which comprised Dollars, Pound Sterling and Euro Accounts. The accounts are alleged to run contrary to relevant laws, especially for public office holders.

Justice Nnoghen whose appointment suffered unprecedented delay by President Muhammadu Buhari over undisclosed issues may be the first CJN in Nigeria to be arraigned for criminal charges by the Federal Government.

Apart from putting the Chief Justice of Nigeria in the dock on Monday, it was gathered that a motion on notice is to be filed against him urging the Tribunal to order him to vacate office and excuse himself in order to prevent possible interference during his arraignment and trial.

Forefront gathered that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has been enlisted by the government to lead the legal onslaught against Justice Onnoghen.

This is just as some eminent lawyers have volunteered their services free of charge for the Chief Justice of Nigeria as a means of tackling what they considered an affront on the judiciary particularly from the jaws of a government that was not too disposed to appointing him.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki had shortly he emerged as chairman of ghe National Assembly in 2015 was arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The case ran through until 2018 when he was discharged and acquitted by the tribunal on the ground that the charges against him as filled by the Federal Government were based on hearsay that could not stand in the face of the law.

Dr. Saraki’s discharge and acquittal was upheld by the Supreme Court under the leadership of Justice Onneghen.

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