Case File Of Former CJN Onnoghen Goes Missing
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) informed the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday that it did not possess the case file for the trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, despite the trial concluding five years ago.
Onnoghen faced prosecution in 2019 by the federal government over false declaration of assets.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) found him guilty, removed him from office, and ordered him to forfeit undeclared assets to the government.
At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Tijani Gazali, SAN, representing the federal government, revealed that no documents related to Onnoghen’s trial were available in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Gazali explained that the trial was handled by Kano-based private lawyer Aliyu Umar, SAN, who has since died.
Gazali requested an adjournment to allow the government time to retrieve the necessary documents from Umar’s chambers.
He noted that most of the 2019 processes were directed to the private lawyer. Additionally, he mentioned that the new AGF was exploring an amicable resolution.
Chris Uche, SAN, representing Onnoghen, contested that some documents had been served and acknowledged by the AGF.
Uche requested an accelerated hearing, which was granted after no objections from the federal government.
Justice C. I. Jombo Ofo, presiding over the panel, scheduled the accelerated hearing for September 19. Onnoghen, present at the court, seeks to overturn the CCT’s judgment that removed him and forfeited his five bank accounts.
