There was no indication Sunday that the Chief Justice of Nigeria,
Walter Onnoghen was ruffled by the allegation of false asset declaration
levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Walter Onnoghen was ruffled by the allegation of false asset declaration
levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
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| Dogara, Osinbajo, Onnoghen and Nkoyo Onnoghen during church service |
And he did not also betray any jitters about the publicised trial scheduled for Monday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Onnoghen, along with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was at the
Inter-Denominational Church Service for Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Celebrations in Abuja on Sunday.
Inter-Denominational Church Service for Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Celebrations in Abuja on Sunday.
The embattled chief justice, who came with his wife, Nkoyo, was photographed exchanging pleasantries with Osinbajo.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, all attended the
event.
to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, all attended the
event.
So far the Federal Government and the Justice Ministry have not
reacted to the reports. A report that the Federal Government has asked
him to resign has not been confirmed anywhere. It remains in the realm
of speculation.
reacted to the reports. A report that the Federal Government has asked
him to resign has not been confirmed anywhere. It remains in the realm
of speculation.
In the meantime, senior lawyers have advised the government or rather
the Code of Conduct Bureau, to forget the idea of docking the nation’s
chief justice.
the Code of Conduct Bureau, to forget the idea of docking the nation’s
chief justice.
Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), in a statement on Sunday described the
proposed trial of CJN Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal
over alleged failure to fully declare his assets as “denigration of the
country’s Judiciary and Constitution.”
proposed trial of CJN Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal
over alleged failure to fully declare his assets as “denigration of the
country’s Judiciary and Constitution.”
“For the sake of our democracy, this is a misconception that must not be allowed to fester.
“No country, no matter how well intentioned its political leaders
are, can aspire to greatness if its judicial arm is denigrated and held
in contempt.
are, can aspire to greatness if its judicial arm is denigrated and held
in contempt.
Human Rights lawyer Femi Falana, described the move against Justice Onnoghen as a “prosecutorial misadventure.”
“The charge against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter
Onnoghen ought not to have been instituted at the Code of Conduct of
Tribunal in view of the case of Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR 43391
wherein the Court of Appeal held that a judicial officer who has not
been investigated by the National Judicial Council and sanctioned for
misconduct cannot be arraigned in any criminal court in Nigeria”, he
said.
Onnoghen ought not to have been instituted at the Code of Conduct of
Tribunal in view of the case of Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR 43391
wherein the Court of Appeal held that a judicial officer who has not
been investigated by the National Judicial Council and sanctioned for
misconduct cannot be arraigned in any criminal court in Nigeria”, he
said.
Justice W. S. Nkanu Onnoghen was decorated with the nation’s second
highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) the
same day he was sworn in as the 16th Chief Justice of Nigeria.
highest honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) the
same day he was sworn in as the 16th Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He was first appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 8 June, 2005.
He became Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on the 10 of
November, 2016. On the 7th day of March, 2017, he was sworn in as the
16th Chief Justice of Nigeria.
November, 2016. On the 7th day of March, 2017, he was sworn in as the
16th Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Onnoghen was born on the 22nd December, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between
1959 and 1965. He later went to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno
Secondary School, Adabraka, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West
African Examination Council (WAEC) Examination.
1959 and 1965. He later went to Accra, Ghana to attend Odorgorno
Secondary School, Adabraka, Ghana between 1967 and 1972 for his West
African Examination Council (WAEC) Examination.
He was at Accra Academy, Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC
(A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons))
and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division.
(A-Levels) before proceeding to the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B (Hons))
and graduated with 2nd Class Upper Division.
He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos between 1977 and 1978 for his bar certificate.
After law school, he served as Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos State.
He thereafter after a year became a partner in the Law Firm of Effiom
Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988), after which he founded his
own legal firm, Walter Onnoghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 – 1989).
Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979 – 1988), after which he founded his
own legal firm, Walter Onnoghen & Associates, Calabar (1988 – 1989).
He was appointed into the Cross River bench in 1989 and served in
various judicial capacities, until he was appointed a justice of the
Court of Appeal in 1998, from where he was promoted to the Supreme Court
in 2005.
various judicial capacities, until he was appointed a justice of the
Court of Appeal in 1998, from where he was promoted to the Supreme Court
in 2005.
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