'i forgot to update my asset declaration, after the expiration of my 2005 declaration”. CJN Tells CCB

A group known as the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative, headed by Mr. Denis Aghanya has within four days sent a petition against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen,  alleging wrongdoing in his asset declaration contrary to section 15 (1) of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Divaviva111 learnt.

The ARDI also alleged that his Code of Conduct Bureau Forms (Form CCB 1) for 2014 and 2016 were dated and filed on the same day and the acknowledgement slips were issued for both on December 14, 2016 and as at that time Onnoghen had become the Chief Justice of Nigeria in March 6, 2017.

The ARDI listed the undisclosed Account balances as follows: The Standard Chartered Bank dollar account 1062650 with a balance of $391,401.28 on January 31, 2011;

The Standard Chartered Bank Euro account 5001062686 with a balance of EURO 49,971 .71 on January 31, 2011;

The Standard Chartered Bank pound sterling account 5001062679 with a balance of GBP23,409.66 on February 28, 2011;

Lawyers on various social media platform has condemned the sudden rush at which the charge was filed against the CJN.

In response, the CJN in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES wrote;

“My asset declaration form numbers SCN 00014 and SCN 00005 were declared on the same day, 14/12/2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009. Following my appointment as acting CJN in November, 2016, the need to declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake.

“I then did the declaration to cover the period in default. I did not include my standard charted bank account in SCN 000014 because I believed they were not opened.

“I did not make a fresh declaration of asset after my substantive appointment as CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN 000015 was to cover that period of four years which includes my term as CJN,” Mr Onnoghen said in his statement dated January 11.

By a statement released by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Saturday, Mr Onnoghen would be arraigned for alleged false asset charge on Monday. Only seven(7) days after the petition was filed.

Some lawyers believe the charge against the CJN will be or is already 'dead on arrival' as the CJN cannot be tried by any Court or Tribunal on the authority of FRN v NGANJIWA (2017) LPELR-43391 (CA).

Recall also that Ngwuta JSC had his false declaration charge recently quashed at the same Tribunal on the authority of the above mentioned case.

More details later...