The Attorney General of the Federation’s office has revealed that it does not possess the case file related to the trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen.
Onnoghen, who was prosecuted by the Federal Government in 2019 for false declaration of assets, was found guilty by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), leading to his removal from office and the forfeiture of his undeclared assets.
During a Court of Appeal hearing on Tuesday, the federal government’s representative, Tijani Gazali, SAN, informed the court that they do not have any documents regarding the ex-CJN’s trial and conviction.
Gazali explained that the case was initially handled by a private Kano-based lawyer, Aliyu Umar, SAN, who passed away four years ago.
Consequently, the government requested an adjournment to retrieve the necessary documents from the late lawyer’s chambers.
Gazali also mentioned that the new Attorney General is considering an alternative resolution of the issues. However, Chris Uche, SAN, Onnoghen’s counsel, noted that some documents had been served and acknowledged by the AGF’s office.
The court granted an accelerated hearing, and the case is scheduled for further proceedings on September 19. Onnoghen, who was present in court, is seeking to overturn the CCT’s judgment that led to his removal and the forfeiture of his bank accounts.
