Assets Declaration Charges: I’ve Done No Wrong – CJN Onnoghen

Responding to the interrogation in writing, Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen pleaded his innocence on the issues raised
by the CCB, saying he did not do any wrong to warrant any action,
having satisfied the requirements of publicly declaring his assets
as a top public officer in Nigeria.

In a written statement to the CCB, sighted last night, Justice
Onnoghen also explained that the undeclared foreign currencies
found in his Standard Chartered Bank were sourced from his
estacodes and medical allowances, including funds from his days in
private practice between 1979 and 1989.

He explained that he filed the two assets declaration forms on
the same day in 2016 after becoming CJN because he forgot to make
another declaration of his assets at the expiration of his 2005
paper in 2009.

“Following my appointment as the Acting CJN in 2016 the need to
declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake and I
therefore did the declaration to cover the period in default,” he
explained.

On the seven accounts omitted in form SCN: 000014, he explained
that it arose because he believed they were not opened during the
period covered by the declaration.

According to him, the $10,000 cash deposits he made at different
intervals into his account in Standard Chartered in 2011 came from
his earned estacodes for medical expenses while the withdrawals
from the accounts were due to paying for his children’s schools
fees and for their upkeep abroad”.Mr Onnoghen said in his statement
dated January 11.

It was not clear last night if the CCB could press ahead with
the case against Onnoghen without clearing with the National
Judicial Council, (NJC) which is headed by him, a body that has
vehemently resisted the trial of any judge for corrupt practices
without being reprimanded by it.