Abubakar Malami, attorney general of the federation and minister of Justice orders Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to freeze the accounts of Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of Nigeria

THE travails of Justice Walter Onnoghen, chief justice of the federation, is not yet over as the office of the attorney general of the Nigerian federation and minister of justice has ordered that his accounts be frozen.

The order was contained in letter the office of the attorney general wrote to the director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Abuja, which was received on January 14, 2019.

The letter conveying the order for the freezing of the accounts of Onnoghen was also dated January 14, 2019, with reference number HAGF/2019/E06/Vol.01 and entitled: “RE:REQUEST FOR THE FREEZING OF BANK ACCOUNTS SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION PURSUANT TO PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 6 OF 5^th JULY 2018 ON THE PRESERVATION OF ASSETS CONNECTED WITH CORRUPTION.”

The document signed by Abiodun Aikomo on behalf of the attorney general of the federation said: “I am directed by Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Honourable Attorney general of the Federation and Minister of Justice to request that you pursuant to the presidential executive order No 6 of 2018, forthwith restrict normal banking operations on certain accounts belonging to Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT/ABJ/1/19 – Federal Republic v Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel.)

“These accounts are: Account number 5001062683 (euro) Standard Chartered Bank. 5001062683 (pounds) 0001062650 (dollar), 0010626667 (naira) and 5001062683 (naira).

Onnoghen is accused of failing to declare the funds in the accounts in his asset declaration form.

He was arraigned on Monday, January 14, at the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal.  More than 70 lawyers, including 49 Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Wole Olanipekun appeared in court to represent Onnoghen, who failed to appear in court because he was not properly served the summon.

His lawyers are also arguing that the CCT lacked jurisdiction to hear the case which should have been referred to the National Judicial Council  which looks into the cases of misconduct of any judicial officer.

The case was adjourned to January 22.

– Jan. 16, 2019 @ 19:49 GMT |