The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has finally given its verdict on suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, finding him guilty of violation of the code of conduct for public officers.
The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Onnoghen is guilty.
The Tribunal cleared anybody’s doubt saying it has jurisdiction to try Onnoghen who made false asset declaration by deliberately omitting to declare the five domiciliary accounts he maintained with Standard Chartered Bank, and in which huge deposits were found.
The tribunal after convicting him, ordered among others, his removal from office, barred him from holding public office for the next 10 years and confiscated the funds in the five accounts, which the CCT said should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
By this development, Onnoghen is first Nigerian CJN ever to be convicted for corruption related crimes.
What is not clear is whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will now begin its own side of the Onnoghen prosecution as feelers have it that he has case to answer with the anti-corruption agency.
