We've heard of excuses that people give when they commit financial crimes. One that is mostly common is POVERTY. But in the case of ONNOGHEN, going by the retirement package for a retired Supreme Court Judge / Former CJN, Why would any sane person involve him or herself with corruption during his active years in service?
The package is in billions of Naira. This amount is what over 95% of Nigerians can never dream of earning in their lifetime. Yet somebody has this waiting for him at retirement but chose to be collecting bribe, selling justice and hiding his assets
It can only be greed.


EXCLUSIVE: Onnoghen resigns as CJN ‘with immediate effect’

April 05

�by Dyepkazah Shibayan

Walter Onnoghen has resigned as the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) with immediate effect, TheCable can report.

He turned in his resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday evening, a day after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended that he be compulsorily retired for misconduct.

By virtue of section 306 of the 1999 constitution, his resignation takes immediate effect.

Section 306 says “(1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, any person who is appointed, elected or otherwise selected to any office established by this Constitution may resign from that office by writing under his hand addressed to the authority or person by whom he was appointed, elected or selected. (2) The resignation of any person from any office established by this Constitution shall take effect when the writing signifying the resignation is received by the authority or person to whom it is addressed or by any person authorised by that authority or person to receive it.”

The resignation, TheCable understands, was the “best possible option” for Onnoghen under the current circumstance.

It will also save Buhari from having to get two-thirds majority of the senate to confirm Onnoghen’s retirement as stipulated in Section 292 (1) of the 1999 constitution which says a “judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances – (a) in the case of – (i) Chief Justice of Nigeria… by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.”

Buhari may not be able to muster the needed majority.

‘GOLDEN HANDSHAKE’

TheCable previously reported that Onnoghen’s retirement benefits in cash and kind will cost tax payers about N2.5 billion.

As part of the package for a retired chief justice, a house will be built for him in Abuja with a nine-digit sum for furnishing — in addition to a severance gratuity that is 300% of his annual basic salary of N3,363,972.50, as well as pension for life.



Just like state governors, a retired chief justice is entitled to a number of domestic staff and sundry allowances for personal upkeep.

This package for judicial officers was put together by the NJC long before Onnoghen became the CJN in 2017.

However, if he is dismissed, he will not be entitled to any benefits.

Onnoghen chose the option of resignation as a measure of damage control, his associates told TheCable.

CASED CLOSED?

TheCable reported on Wednesday that the NJC had recommended the embattled CJN for compulsory retirement after deliberating on a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which alleges “financial impropriety, infidelity to the constitution and other economic and financial crimes related laws”.

Onnoghen, who denied all allegations, is also undergoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges of false asset declaration.

Onnoghen has closed his defence at the CCT and the tribunal is expected to give its judgment at the next sitting on April 15.

But for the crisis, Onnoghen, who is 68, was due for retirement in 2020.

If the “soft landing” option is favoured by Buhari, the EFCC may not proceed with filing criminal charges while the case at the CCT could become academic because the major punishment for Onnoghen would have been his removal from office.

He could be banned from holding public office for 10 years, while his assets believed to have been acquired illegitimately will be confiscated.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-onnoghen-resigns-as-cjn-with-immediate-effect

OnnoghenGate indeed

" Let him who is without sin cast the first stone "

No saints in Nigeria including Buhari. Or did Abacha stole any money from Nigeria covers?

His case is still on in the CCT,
The presidency has kept mum over his resignation,
After the trial with the CCT, the case may be referred to the EFCC/police to charge him to a regular court, prosecuted and even jailed
He'll then be sacked with no pensions and benefits.


So you can see that the presidency still has a lot of options on how to deal with that thief

Go & sit down mofo

Stop writing crab, onnoghen has not been convicted....those who arranged and disgraced him out of office , will live to fight their own fight, espacially that ph.D holder in kwaruption from the university of lifelessness in USA.

blackpanda:
The President should reject Onnoghen's resignation and subsequently dismiss him

FG can accept his resignation and still continue with the cases in court. Accepting his resignation does not mean FG has to drop the case against him