The Federal Government has asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)
Justice Walter Onnoghen to immediately vacate his exalted office as Head
of the Nation’s judiciary over his alleged refusal to declare his
assets after assuming office in March 2017.
Vanguard reports that in a move to force Justice Onnoghen out of
office, the Federal Government will on Monday January 14, 2019 arraign
him before the Justice Danladi Yakubu led- Code of Conduct Tribunal
(CCT) in Abuja on charges of failures to declare his assets as required
by law and for operating Bank Domiciliary Foreign Currency Accounts.
The charge sheet was filed and served to the CJN at his official
residence in Abuja yesterday Friday January 11th, preparatory for his
appearance at the tribunal. The Federal Government among others is
accusing Justice Onnoghen of refusing to declare his assets which is
a breach of the provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
Onnoghen has also being accused of maintaining Domiciliary foreign
currencies account which comprised Dollars Account, Pound Sterling
Account and Euro Account which are alleged to be contrary to relevant
laws, especially for public office holders.
Apart from putting the Chief Justice in the dock on Monday, the
motion on notice is to be filed against him praying the tribunal to
order him to vacate office and recuse himself office so as to prevent
alleged interference in his arraignment and trial. The report says
a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, names withheld, has been employed to
represent the Federal government in court.
Meanwhile, eminent lawyers have volunteered to represent Onnoghen in court.
Justice Onnoghen 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.
Onnoghen was sworn into office by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in March 2017.