CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL CONVICTS FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA, CHALLENGES CONVICTION

The Tribunal stated that, the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that  Onnoghen refused to disclose his accounts in the asset declaration form, despite having the five accounts since 2009,stressing that, “It is crystal clear that the defendant was in clear breach of the CCB Act,”

Penpushing further reports that the Chairman said, “the tribunal has come to the conclusion that the defendant is in clear breach of the code of conduct for public officers”, and then asked Onnoghen if he had something to say but thereafter responded in the negative.

The Chairman who invoked the provisions of section 23 of the Tribunal Act, to give the order, while speaking on the application challenging Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT’s) jurisdiction, said the provisions of the constitution empowered the Tribunal to adjudicate on matters relating to allegations of false asset charge without the interference of any external body including the National Judicial Council.

Penpushing also reports that, in a swift response to the ruling, the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, has appealed his conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, identifying sixteen grounds on which basis he wants the appellate court to upturn his conviction.

The sacked former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) also sought seven reliefs from the court including “an order setting aside the conviction of the appellant (Onnoghen).”