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Onnoghen’s lawyer says CCT judgment was already decided even before the trial began

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NCEF kicks against Onnoghen's conviction, says its jihad against Christians

Counsel to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, has described Thursday’s judgment as unconstitutional and premeditated, adding that it was in breach of his right to fair hearing.

Justice Okon Efuk, SAN, who led Onnoghen’s defence team at Thursday’s judgment proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, made the statement while speaking to journalists after the CCT delivered its judgment in Abuja.

The CCT had found Justice Walter Onnoghen guilty of contravening the provision of code of conduct for public officers.

He was therefore been removed as the CJN and chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC). Onnoghen was also banned from office for 10 years and the money in his five accounts confiscated, and forfeited to the Federal Government.

READ ALSO: Onnoghen convicted, to forfeit assets, can’t hold public office for 10 yrs

Efut, in reaction said, “We know that all is not over in this matter. The wheel of justice grinds slowly. It grinds slowly but surely. But this is not a matter that will end here.

“We shall avail ourselves of all the processes and the hierarchy of the judiciary.”

He also said the judgment was premeditated, saying it had been passed as far back as January 23 when the tribunal ordered Onnoghen’s suspension without hearing him.

He said, “The conviction is unconstitutional. It is a breach of fair hearing.

“Before this day, on January 23, 2019, the same judgment had been passed, removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria without fair hearing.

“So, it was fait accompli, it was premeditated. Judgment has been passed before today. Today’s judgment is just a formality.

“We hold the view that the tribunal has not only breached the Constitution of Nigeria, it has breached the fundamental principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“It has not only been able to pass judgment, it has convicted on an offence that was never charged.

“This is an erosion of the fundamental principles of our Constitution and until some questions are answered, for instance, why is it that the due course of justice was not allowed to flow?”

Meanwhile, Onnoghen has filed a notice of appeal against the judgement of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which convicted him of six counts of false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Federal Government.

In the notice, the “Federal Government of Nigeria” was listed as the only respondent.

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