Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: CJN Walter Onnoghen Explains Why He Did Not Declare His Assets

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Sunday, January 13, 2019

CJN Walter Onnoghen Explains Why He Did Not Declare His Assets

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, has explained why he failed to declare his assets.




Onnoghen attributed his failure to declare his assets to forgetfulness.

The embattled CJN explained that he thought that the form SCN 000015 filed in December 2016 was enough to cover for the declaration of his assets.

Baring any last minute change, the embattled CJN will be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Monday, over failure to declare his assets after his appointment as CJN.

An Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative had filed a petition against Onnoghen over the non declaration of his assets.

The group alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare ownership of his domiciliary accounts.

Headed by one Denis Aghanya, the group said its petition was necessitated by the closeness of the 2019 elections and the importance of the judiciary before and after the elections.

It said the petition was submitted “bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 elections and the overwhelming role of the judiciary both before and after the election.”


Responding to the petition, Onnoghen, in a statement made to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB said he ”forgot to update his asset declaration, after the expiration of his 2005 declaration”.

PremiumTimes quoted Onnoghen in his response to CCB on Friday as saying: “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.”
dailypost



*Forgot indeed!!!

37 comments:

  1. So sad the one who ought to know more about the law allowed himself to be messed up this way. There is no excuse before the law but again I still insist that there is a political undertone over this all. I want to ask, since 2016 he was appointed as the chief judge of the federation, are they just discovering now about his non declaration of assets? Why now very close to an election? Why create tensions and give signals that threaten a peaceful election? Wouldn't it have been better if the case comes up after election as not to heat the polity? If he had been useful to the ruling party, will they think of disposing him? I believe the Judiciary was difficult to be gag by the executive so they were glad as opportunity avail itself to nail the hitman.

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    1. Teejay good morning,you made me to follow up political stories like this one up here and every other news I understand better each time I read your comment thank you so much God bless you.

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    2. You made a very good opening comment then destroyed it later with sentiments. It doesn’t matter why it is happening now. Political undertone or not, our CJN messed up big time. So the timing has no relevance. What matters is that it is even happening. He is one of and the biggest keeper of the temple of justice. If such a person fails to be a custodian of the law then we have big problem at hand. Despite accepting this big error, which doesn’t even make sense (forgot to declare his bigger financial savings), several dozens of SAN lawyers are teaming up to defend the indefensible. Again, this tells us why we have disastrous people as keepers of the temple of justice. Honest upright lawyers would boycott him and not even make any effort to defend him. This is no witch hunt. The man should pay for this unforgivable crime. It is not about the judiciary over powering the executive. Rather, the judiciary is the prime problem in the slow pace of delivery of justice.

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    3. Morning sweetie @chi babe. We say it as it is without fear nor favour nothing minding whose OX is gored.

      Now look at Shehu Sani reactions on this;


      But reacting, Shehu Sani, while condemning the FG decision, said the move against the CJN should be resisted and rescinded.

      He tweeted, “The move against the CJN onnoghen is a political assault on the sacred temple of justice; it should be resisted and rescinded.

      “The government has moved in the crane to the Court in order to remove a Bench from the roof.

      “This amount to throwing a bolt on the runway of our democracy and peace.”


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    4. Anonymous 10:26 you are much in order and correct with your comment but believe me the timing is very skeptical and wrong about the whole process. It send a wrong signal to the whole system. He was served on Friday to be arraigned on Monday, just two days interval.Why boycott the NJC? Isn't that wrong thing to have done? The Chief Judge is a member of NJC, so it was necessary an official memo written to them at first. What do you say about that?

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    5. Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), described the purported arraignment of the CJN before the CCT as unconstitutional, regardless of whether he was guilty or not.

      Agbakoba stated that it was outrageous to suggest that a CJN could be arraigned at all on any grounds, as the constitutional procedure clearly specified that he would have any charge against him laid before the Senate or the NJC, which is empowered to take disciplinary action against judges.

      According to Agbakoba, “It is outrageous to even suggest that a CJN can be arraigned at all on any grounds as the constitutional procedure clearly specified that the CJN will have a charge laid before the Senate for misconduct or the NJC, which is also empowered to take disciplinary action.

      “The courts have stated very clearly that the NJC is charged with the sole responsibility for disciplinary action against judges in addition to powers conferred on the Senate.

      “It is therefore unconstitutional to charge the CJN before a CCT, whether guilty or not.”

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    6. Shehu’s statement was before the CJN accepted the guilt of his crime and his statement is irrelevant in the court of law because the CJN has already accepted his crime. No two ways to it. What he did was wrong so he should face the music. As the anon 10:26 pointed out, this is the highest authority in the judiciary. If such a person cannot be a custodian of the law, who else should? Mr CJN, your excuse is not acceptable even in the court of law.

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    7. @Chi babe, so it’s Teejay’s comments u appreciate lol.. u have indeed shot yourself in the leg.

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    8. Over 150 SANs have volunteered interest to stand before the trial judge with the embattled Chief judge not because he is innocent but for the wrong process the case was given. Now look at Femi Falana outburst on this;

      Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has asked the Federal Government to urgently withdraw the charges against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen as such move will amount to prosecutorial misadventure.

      The Federal Government had earlier asked Onnoghen to vacate his office over failure to declare his assets as required by the law and moved to arraign him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

      But Falana, in a statement on Saturday faulted FG”s move to press charges against the CJN.

      According to him, “The charge against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen ought not to have been instituted at the Code of Conduct of Tribunal in view of the case of Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR 43391 wherein the Court of Appeal held that a judicial officer who has not been investigated by the National Judicial Council and sanctioned for misconduct cannot be arraigned in any criminal court in Nigeria.

      “As all authorities are bound by the Court of Appeal verdict, the case should be withdrawn by the Attorney-General of the Federation without any delay because it is likely to be a prosecutorial misadventure,” he said.

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    9. Teejay, I maintain that the timing is irrelevant in the court of law. What matters is whether an offence was committed or not. In this case, there is a very big offence. Sadly, by the highest authority of the judiciary in the country. All the comments and press releases by lawyers are doing us disservice to the judiciary. They are trying to defend their own because they know how dubious and criminally structured the judiciary has been for years now. We should stop shielding the same people who cause problems for us. Forgetfulness is not an excuse in the court of law and this man should understand that better. He erred so he should face the music. Whether political undertone or not, there is an established case of criminality here. Let’s not whip sentiments. Let’s put our emotions aside. The CJN should do the needful. I won’t say anything about this anymore.

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    10. @Jackie thanks for your contribution and I really appreciate your thought about it too. Lets see how it goes tomorrow but don't forget I didn't support the act of the CJN and neither did I exonerate him.

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    11. Irrespective of the time, the honourable thing to do is for this man to resign from his office. This is a delibrate omission and not forgetfulness.

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  2. It's a shame, how can you forget now you allow yourself to be nailed in this manner so sad.

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    1. It is because the judiciary has been dominated by criminals. How can you forget your major account with large currency savings? What a dubious excuse. He didn’t forget. He only thought he could play smart.

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  3. I am shocked at you Teejay, you speak from both sides of your mouth,I now know why some bvs are of the opinion that you are shallow minded. You don't think before you talk, you just believed that you have to say something, even if it's has foolish has what you typed above.Just like Stella said he forgot indeed. One who is expected to uphold the law is on the other side of the law now.

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    1. Why dont you just state your opinion and move on....we cant all think in the same direction,vatiety is the spice of life .This is a new year please lets all accomadate each other with any form of insult.

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  4. Gradually, the judiciary is looking it's voice. Now it has been added to the police and DSS portfolio to try people.No fear for the wig and gown again. What happened to 3 tiers of government?This God forsaken regime

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  5. I have been a silent reader on this blog for almost a year now, but I have never come across a daft person has Teejay, who speaks from both sides of his mouth. I used to think you were righteous but alas I was wrong about you, how can someone who understands the law better than you admit that he was wrong and yet you opened your mouth to say it's politics. He had the chance to declare for almost 2+ years that he has been in office but he didn't and yet you are asking that he should be forgiven, forgive indeed. Essa was right when he said you are sentimental when it comes to ethics and upholding it. Wish you well

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    1. You have forgotten that one guy who someone nicknamed here as political anonymous used to say the same thing about teejay. I always read he refutation of teejay. At first I thought he was just being hard on him then I realized that it is necessary for someone like him to keep this guy on the check. He is very sentimental. His objectivity is only whenever it soothes him. Always commenting based on his emotions. No principle at all. I don’t know how he can boastfully make a case for someone who already accepts his guilt even before the commencement of his case.

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    2. I am sure teejay is from the Biafra nation. Very sentimental and never objective.

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    3. Why are the both of you crying? Lolzzzz. Challenge me with superior argument and I will go with you than sounding like broken records teejay this teejay that. Keep on crying dear till there is no more tears left in your eyes lolzzzz

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    4. Teejay lolzzzz, you have still failed to say anything remotely intelligent (as usual) lolzzzz

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  6. They will always look for loop hole to remove the west and east and put the North there

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  7. Ignorance is not an excuse in the law,tho this could be politically motivated

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  8. This Teejay guy, u chat a lot of bullshit. I wish I could see u to knock some sense into your head.

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    1. Relax please. Be patient.

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    2. 11:04 look at your brothers up there crying over my comments lolzzz. Go and carry them home hahahaha...

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    3. LMAO 😂😂😂😂 you don't have to see him to give him a knock...you can still give him e-knock...This is 21st cent..knocking made easier

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  9. I am not surprise that 150 SAN want to defend him because they are all corrupt. The Nigeria we want will never come unless the masses fight for it. Nigeria judiciary is the most corrupt arm of the government, they can jail a thief that stole 1k but the rich and politicians are untouchable, the funny thing is the poor masses keep shouting witch hunting whenever the government wants to do something good. A country where the law is not respected can never progress.
    What a lot of Nigerians do not understand is PDP is APC, they are the same people. I don’t understand why the masses can not support younger politicians,I guess because they are not sharing money like older corrupt leaders who are ready to share money they stole from the government to the masses.
    Nobody is above the law, until we accept it and don’t wail when politicians or highly placed individuals are being made to face the law, until powerful corrupt individuals are tried in court of law and jailed successfully, that is when we will start seeing real progress in Nigeria.
    Kemi Adeosun did the honorable thing and resigned, but if she is in PDP, some Nigerians because of their hate for Buhari would have supported her and call it witch hunting.

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    1. Sorry to correct you, Kemi Adeosun was forced to resigned after much resistance and inaction from the Presidency. Nobody is supporting evil or corruption sweetie, but the fight against corruption should be holistic and without sentiments or party affiliation.

      Do you know Fayose was still a governor with immunity when his account was frozen? Why then hasn't Ganduje a.k.a babariga mobile bank given same treatment? You see this is selective justice and what I frown at.

      Do you know the president can't sack the CJN according to the constitution? The Senate and NJC are the people responsible for such action of discipline to be melted out to the chief judge. The Presidency would have written to the NJC or Senate about it before heading to CCB but no they didn't because they were on vendetta. You served a notice on Friday for one to be arraigned on Monday. How good was that to you? At least if it was three working days given to him we would have understand but no it wasn't, for Saturday and Sunday aren't working days before the Monday. We should be considerable in our reasoning sometimes. How many politicians in APC have been hurriedly prosecuted? Even Fayose was still in power after PDP lost the election and then EFCC started tweeting "The parry is over" Can they say that to their own?

      The problem with Nigeria why it can't be redeemed is that people are often hypocritical and economical with the truth mostly when it affect their interest.

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  10. This is silly. They should leave him alone. I have to declare assets as part of my job. You get reminders when it expires and the thing keeps tracking till you fell out the form. There should be an ethics body that would have reminded him and ensured it was completed. Who will remember something that expires in four years. It's a silly witch hunt

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  11. "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.”


    Stella please, you and your followers should always read to understand before making hasty conclusions. The man from what I quoted up here CLEARLY STATED he declared his assets in November, 2016 to cover from the default to 2016 when he was made acting CJN. When he was made "SUBSTANTIVE" in other words, when he was confirmed (by Osibanjo), he did not declare the assets again. Mind you assets declaration is every 4years. He didn't declare in 2017 because the one for 2016 covers a period of 4years according to the law. Moreso, the declaration was made while in the position of the CJN albeit in acting capacity.

    Furthermore, the procedural approach adopted is flawed in law.

    Please, I advice you guys to always read and understand or ask questions and don't hit up the polity unnecessarily.

    If you like publish my come or you chop am as always.

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    1. I will be waiting to see how the case will go by tomorrow. Tomorrow is already here with us.

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  12. I'm a fervent party man but I'm very constrained at this point to admit that APC has engaged in what is rightly called *constitutional misadventure*. Even if you must fight, it's only reasonable you fight smart.

    This outlandship arraignment of the CJN is clearly a witch hunt, and they are hell bent on it; which is why they threw away all procedural guideline to achieve that purpose. To think that an AG, who is an SAN endorsed this process; that is dead from inception beats imagination.

    We are a country of laws and there is a good reason while the framers of the constitution made NJC the first point of call for disciplining a judicial officer.
    And in the case of a CJN, the Senate and the NJC.

    The Court of Appeal in the case of Njagiwa vs FRN reiterated the above. Are they aware of these procedures? yes. Why didn't they follow it? because they were never out for due process but wicth hunt.
    And the lawyer that ignobly endorsed those charges should be petitioned before the LPDC and disbarred.Her action is clearly below the standard expected of a legal practitioner.

    Please keep in view that there is a good reason why the declaration form is left to be updated every 4 years. it wasn't anticipated that every day you procure a car or open an account you call for an update. That will surely make the process tedious. He said he updated last in 2016, meaning the next update is due in 2020.

    why procute him so fast? it's a constitutional right for one to be given adequate time to prepare his defence. Do they care about that? no , all they want is the embarrassment to the judiciary and that they will soon get and pay for at the election and after it.

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    1. God bless you for this insight. I said it that this government won't succeed with this plans initiated hurriedly. Only supporters of evil are praising this acts from a mistake of a government.

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  13. This is just election matter.
    They want to remove him before election. Don't forget Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and will hear election petition matters.
    They know he won't play ball so what better way than to disgrace and remove him.
    Buhari wey tell us he get just ten cows and couldnt afford to pay for his form nko.

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