Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to Thursday’s conviction of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
Onnoghen who recently resigned his appointment as the CJN while on suspension was convicted on charges of false declaration of assets and breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau for public officials.
He had also been recommended for immediate retirement by the National Judicial Council, NJC, which investigated him over allegations made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, the Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, leading two others, held that since Onnoghen could not explain how he got the monies in five bank accounts which he failed to declare, he must have acquired them fraudulently.
The tribunal therefore declared him guilty and recommended his immediate removal as the CJN and ordered that he forfeit the funds in the bank accounts in contention, among other punishments.
However, some legal practitioners who spoke to the Next Edition on the development expressed mixed reactions.
Below are some of the reactions.
Mr. Anthony Agbazuere, a Constitutional Lawyer and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, said, “Onnoghen’s lawyers would have applied for out of court settlement. If his lawyers had made such move, this mess would have been avoided and Onnoghen would have been saved from this mess.
“I am afraid that he had a very bad case that should have been managed tactically by his team. He said that he forgot, it means that there were certain things that he should have done but which were not done.
“Onnoghen’s lawyers should have convinced him earlier to opt out of court and apply for out of court settlement to avoid this. But he has the right to appeal but what will he get out of it. He was too quick to admit that he made mistakes. His lawyers would have advised him properly before the matter got to this point.
“The CCT has the power to remove him from office, and ban him from holding any office for a number of years in the country; it is in the constitution of Nigeria.
“Well, he has the right to appeal the judgment as I said but so far he did not declare the assets and he said that he forgot to do so, he has no defense. The court of Appeal may not help his case; even in other advanced countries he will not have gotten a better judgment.”
Emeka Amaechi, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Port Harcourt, however, described the judgment as a hatchet job, adding that it was anticipated.
“It is obviously a hatchet job done by the tribunal presided over by a tainted chairman. I am not really surprised at the outcome. It was anticipated.
“Hopefully, justice would be done at the appellate court. Meanwhile, an opportunity to hold public officials accountable for their act or omission has unfortunately been misused by the CCT.
“The law allows him to regularize his asset declaration once he admits a mistake made in good faith. Such an opportunity was not given to him.”
Also reacting, Mr. Goddy Uwazurike, Legal practitioner, said the judgment did not come to many people as a surprise. “The conviction of Justice Walter Onnoghen did not come to many of us as a surprise. The only thing we waited for was the reason or what is called ratio in law. When a charge is read, the defendant can challenge the jurisdiction.
“The court stops all movements until it has resolved this issue. Again, the burden of proving allegations is on the executive (prosecutor). Again, the Chairman only referred to the evidences led in court. When the chairman referred to the confession of the defendant, I wondered where it came from because no such evidence is there. Remember the CCB officer said the assets document were yet to be investigated.
“A bank said the defendant borrowed money that is being repaid from investments of the loan. Who bears this liability? As a lawyer, I don’t think you can remove the CJN except in accordance with the constitution. I hope Onnoghen will pursue this matter in the Court of Appeal, not just for his name but for the sake of the independence of the three arms of the democratic governance. Whatever comes around goes around.”
On twitter, Nigerians have also been expressing their views.
@FydowB: “From grace to grass!!!!See what greed & corruption has cost former CJN Walter Onnoghen. CCT has slam him real hard,1. Forfeited all the £$€ &# currencies in 5 bank account from 2005-2012. Was dismissed as CJN meaning no gratuity or pension, ban from holding public office for 10yrs.”
@d_problemsolver: “Yes I am in a position where I have access to funds, I just want to enrich myself and have enough for my children and their unborn children.”
“Take a look at the face of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
Now everything is gone, including his integrity!”
@AtilolaAugusti1: “Absolute Balderdash, Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal found d Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen guilty & in all his self acclaimed power, he couldn’t order his arrest & sentence him 2 appropriate jail term. When U’re all done with this ridiculous drama lemme know.”
@Allyoyedokungm1: “With the likes of Walter Onnoghen on the Bench, how could the unsuspecting citizens get justice??
READ ALSO: JUST IN: CCT Declares Onnoghen Guilty, Strips Him of All Offices Held
“Onnoghen represented the black angle of the judiciary and he should face prosecution.”
@Ody_johnson: “Few Questions we should be asking after Walter Onnoghen’s conviction.
1. Danladi Umar has a case in court brought against him by EFCC, when will he be docked?
2. B. Lawal, A. A Maina, when will they have their days in courts?
Ohh sowieee they are from the North..”
@OMONU244: “Chief Justice of Nigeria sacking issa scam…I grieve with Walter Onnoghen, APC can do all they want, they won’t remain in POWER forever
#ItIsYourTurn”
@chosensumto: “Chairman of code of conduct tribunal who gave judgment against Walter Onnoghen, has EFCC case to answer.
“see why they send whoever they want to destroy to CCT?
“Right before our eyes Buhari admin is arm twisting a Tribunal chair, using him to deal with people. Sleep well Nigeria.”
@AdeBanqie: “Where are those our MCMs, Overlords, Influensers, E-SANs who condemned @MBuhari for taking Disgraced CJN, Walter Onnoghen to the CCT?
“Where are those who saw no positives in the move? It is not by big big grammar.
“Don’t you ever underrate a taciturn General.”
@cbngov_akin1: “BREAKING
“Ex Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen IS GUILTY – Says CCT ordered which went undeclared between 2009 and 2015, forfeit all monies in his accounts to NIgeria! Removed from office immediately and
“Banned from holding public office for the next 10 years.
“ME: Good”
@Ade_Nurayn: “The CCT has found the suspended CJN, Walter Onnoghen guilty. All his 5 undeclared accounts are to be forfeited to the Federal Government. Where are our baby twitter lawyers that insulted us because of Onnoghen?”
@ubig1; “The CCT chairman Danladi Umar that found Walter Onnoghen guilty & sacked him as CJN has a 10 million bribery case against him by the EFCC
“Yet he’s sitting comfortably as the CCT chairman.”
@Chrisbamidele: “So, I’m reading that The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has convicted the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, and subsequently banned him from holding any public office for 10 years.
“Onnoghen, Onnogoing, OnnoGONE!
“Ire O!
#DemocracyIsNotInDanger”
@ogundamisi: “Social Media Lawyers and jegudujera ‘activists’ sent Walter Onnoghen to the point of no return, the guy would have resigned jejely but NO! The corruption is better than incompetence Army gave him false backing and abandoned him.”
