Buhari Shuns Court Orders, Suspends CJN Onnoghen

• Swears-in Justice Mohammed as Acting CJN

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Despite numerous court orders on the matter, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday suspended the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, pending the completion of his controversial trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

He announced the decision at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, saying the action was informed by the CCT’s order to suspend Onnoghen until the case is over. Justice Onnoghen is from Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State

In a brief ceremony inside the Aso Rock Villa, the President immediately sworn-in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to replace Justice Onnoghen, currently facing charges of non-declaration of some assets, especially accounts in foreign currencies.

The 65-year-old Justice Muhammad, from Bauchi state, is the most senior justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He attended Government Secondary School, Azare and obtained the West Africa School Certificate (WASC) in 1973, before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Kaduna for a bachelor’s degree in Law in 1980.

He later obtained a Master and Doctorate (Ph.D) degrees from the same university in 1984 and 1998 respectively.

Case against Onnoghen

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had scheduled Monday January 14, 2019 for the arraignment of Onnoghen, on allegations of false and non- asset declarations.

Mr Ibraheem Al-Hassan, the tribunal’s Head, Press and Public Relations, has said the action was consequent upon an application filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to the Chairman of the Tribunal.

Al-Hassan said the application was signed by Mr Ibrahim Usman and Mrs Fatima Ali on behalf of the Bureau.

He said the tribunal would commence the trial of the CJN on six-count charge as the service of summons had been served on the defendant.

The petition at CCB against Justice Onnoghen was filed by Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI).

ARDI’s Executive-Secretary, Mr Dennis Aghanya, who availed NAN with a copy of the petition in Abuja, said his organization only acted as a whistleblower.

He said the petition, filed on January 7, 2019, was an offshoot of painstaking investigations into dealings by the now suspended CJN, adding that ARDI strongly believes the allegations were weighty enough to compel an action against Justice Onnoghen.

The petition reads in parts: “We hereby petition you on suspected violations of the law and the Constitution of Nigeria by the Honourable Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“Specifically, we petition you based on the alarming facts detailed below, all of which indicate that the leader of our country’s judicial branch is embroiled in suspected official corruption, financial crimes and breaches of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“The particulars of our findings indicate that: His Lordship Justice Walter Onnoghen is the owner of sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself, up to as recently as 10th August 2016.

“These appear to have been run in a manner inconsistent with financial transparency and the code of conduct for public officials.’’

The body had alleged that Justice Onnoghen made five different cash deposits of 10,000 dollars each on March 8, 2011 into Standard Chartered Bank Account 1062650.

It also alleged that the CJN on June 7, 2011, made two separate cash deposits of 5000 dollars each.

Furthermore, it claimed that the June 7, 2011 transactions were followed by another four cash deposits of 10,000 dollars each.

Also, ARDI alleged that Justice Onnoghen had on June 27, 2011, made another set of five separate cash deposits of 10,000 dollars each and made four more cash deposits of 10,000 dollars on June 28, 2011.

It further alleged the CJN failed to declare his assets immediately after taking office, noting that the inaction was contrary to Section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Other allegations by ARDI is that Onnoghen did not comply with the constitutional requirement for public servants to declare their assets every four years during their career.

The group said the Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) belonging to Justice Onnoghen for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day, adding that the acknowledgement slip for Declarant SCN: 000014 was issued on Dec.14, 2016 while that for Declarant SCN: 000015 was also issued on Dec.14, 2016.

Also captured in the petition are allegations that the two CCB acknowledgment slips were issued to Justice Onnoghen when he had been sworn-in as the CJN.

“The affidavit for SCN: 000014 was sworn to on 14th December 2016; 2 of 6 b. The affidavit for SCN: 000015 was sworn to on 14th December 2016.

“Both forms were received on 14th December 2016 by one Awwal Usman Yakasai.

“The discrepancy between Justice Walter Onnoghen’s two CCB forms that were filed on the same day is significant.

“In filling the section on Details of Assets, particularly cash in Nigerian Banks, His Lordship as Declarant SCN: 000014 mentioned only two bank accounts,” the petitioner further alleged.

According to him, the CJN runs Union Bank account number 0021464934 in Abuja, with balance of N9, 536,407 on November 14, 2014.

ARDI claimed that the second account the CJN said he runs is Union Bank number 0012783291 in Calabar, with balance of N11, 456,311 as at November 14, 2014.

The petitioner said the sources of the funds in the accounts were stated as salaries, estacodes and allowances.

The petitioner, however, alleged that Justice Onnoghen as Declarant SCN: 000015, had listed seven bank accounts that were in use.

The group said the CJN was linked to Standard Chartered account number 00001062667, with balance of N3, 221,807.05 as at November 14, 2016.

Another account they alleged was operated by the CJN included Standard Chartered account number 00001062650, with balance of $164,804.82, as at November14 2016.

The other account linked to him is Standard Chartered with account number 5001062686, with balance of 55,154.56 Euros as at November 14, 2016 among others – With NAN reports