₦airaland Forum

buhariguy:
i know osun but not ede, maybe you are among those from ede eating f9 adeleke money.
in that case, this is the beginning of your cifia pain.

Wa bi gba l arakunrin yi,

buhariguy:
because it Will be a waste of time and his money.

Go and Sleep

Neoteny:
We've already retired everything you hold dear:

Your Atiku
Your PDP
Your Dubai Plan
Your Saraki
Your Kwankwaso

Your suspended CJI is already semi-retired...

Sorry ghen

2015 Adamawa is APC

2019 can you say who is in charge now after election

2015 how many states PDP

2019 how many state now


2015 APC had a Spread to All Zones in Nigeria

2019 APC had been reduced to A regional Party By PDP yet you retire PDP

Some people must be sad on the money they spend on you

Afamed:
Kiss the truth, your leader isn't getting millions of dollars this time around from the Electoral judgment. No cash and carry Judgement this time around

Certified lazy BMC isn't that the case.

Running around with rumour


From he has 55 houses

Billions of dollar's


Now yo this again

Una no dey shame for this una certified lazy BMC lies

OAUTemitayo:
Nonsense report.
He will be unceremoniously retired.

Go and retaya him naaa.


Certified lazy BMC

Afamed:
I don't exchange Banters with kids. Next time, be decent in your choice of words

Certified lazy BMC

Afamed:
Keep quiet, chief wailing wailer. You can't know more than the people that recommended his sack

Reccomend his sack you say

By who?

APC The nation news paper NJC chapter ago.

Afamed:
Clever by half, having billion dollar in the account is not the problem, the problem becomes what's the source of the billion in your account. The problem becomes why did the ex CJN refuse to declare such money in his account. Osinbajo didn't hide the money in his account when he became the vp. The problem we are having in the country is majorly from people like you. You are here defending the Ex CJN with million of undeclared dollar in his account of which what you will eat this money is yet to be known to you. Lazy youth, to you Osinbajo was a mere commissioner. Perhaps. you didn't know Osinbajo was a senior Lecturer at University of Lagos for many years, Lazy youth, you didn't know Osinbajo was a practicing lawyer for many years which earned him the SAN. PMB was right to refer to you as Lazy youth

You must have been a certified lazy Youth for not using your given brain to verify News before running around with fake assumptions

SarkinYarki:
Have you been following the case at all ?

Am not sure he has.

APC people just spinning out figures anyhow abiut

Afamed:
Clever by half, having billion dollar in the account is not the problem, the problem becomes what's the source of the billion in your account. The problem becomes why did the ex CJN refuse to declare such money in his account. Osinbajo didn't hide the money in his account when he became the vp. The problem we are having in the country is majorly from people like you. You are here defending the Ex CJN with million of undeclared dollar in his account of which what you will eat this money is yet to be known to you. Lazy youth, to you Osinbajo was a mere commissioner. Perhaps. you didn't know Osinbajo was a senior Lecturer at University of Lagos for many years, Lazy youth, you didn't know Osinbajo was a practicing lawyer for many years which earned him the SAN. PMB was right to refer to you as Lazy youth

Do you ever read his reply

The nation newspaper thrash as usual.

From55 houses

Billions of dollar's

To this


Tueeeeee

NJC Meeting On Onnoghen, Muhammad Ends In Deadlock

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has decided on the report of the five-man committee it set up to investigate petitions against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the acting CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, CFR.

The NJC took the decision in an emergency meeting held on Wednesday.


But sources within the NJC said its meeting ended in deadlock as they could not decide appropriately on the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The source said they expect Onnoghen to resign on his own, noting that even if he was found guilty it will be a herculean task removing him because the Federal Government will need two-thirds of the Senate to do that.

“And as you know that will be difficult with the present Senate as constituted”, he said, noting that the government may be packaging a retire stunt for him.

A statement by Soji Oye, Director, Information, NJC, said, “Council decided that the allegations relating to assets declaration that were levelled against Hon. Mr. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen, GCON, were sub judice and, therefore abstained from considering them.

“Council reached a decision on the petitions written by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others and conveyed its decision to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

“Council also resolved that, by the nature of the decision reached, it would be inappropriate to publicise it before conveying it to Mr. President.”

Lawyers on Wednesday hailed the National Judicial Council (NJC) for reaching a timely decision on the petitions brought against suspended Chief Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, saying, however, that they are optimistic that the embattled jurist will be vindicated at the end.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Independent following NJC’s Wednesday submission of its finding to President Muhammadu Buhari, the lawyers said that the charge against Onnoghen stands on rather tentative footing.

According to Dr. Simeon Igbinedion, Sub-Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and an International Criminal Law expert, Onnoghen’s removal was not bona fide, hence it is a non-starter.

He said, “I do not have all the facts of the case in regard to Justice Walter Onnoghen. But I am aware that the case brought by the Federal Government against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) constitutes mutated mutandis, the facts in the petition lodged against him before the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“If you have been following, as I have, media reports of what have been happening at the CCT, you will discover that the Federal Government could hardly maintain with evidence the charge they brought against the CJN.

“It is also the same facts mutatis mutandis that the EFCC brought, couching it however in the language of criminal law, against him before the NJC.

“The Chief Justice has denied all the charge. At the risk of sounding subjudice, I will hazard that the case against Onnoghen will fall flat.


“I believe this is so, because the charge is not bona fide. It is politically motivated.

“You will observe that the government scarcely did any serious preliminary investigation before moving against the man. It was while the trial was ongoing that they began shopping for evidence to nail him.

“Whether they will succeed at this looks to me as farfetched.”

Speaking in a similar tenor, Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Olusina Fasugba, argued that the CJN’s removal was politically motivated and hence the charge against him might likely go to nothing.

According to him, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria was suspended under very controversial circumstances. The whole thing has ‘K-leg’.

“As far as I am concerned the claim that the action was politically motivated is not an idle one, if you’ve been following fall-outs of the recent cycle of elections.

“So, I feel the government hurriedly removed the CJN and only to go to town looking for evidence to justify their action.

“The charge against Onnoghen is standing on a weak foundation. The National Judicial Council or indeed the CCT can only act based on evidence.

“The question remains: does the Federal Government have solid evidence to maintain their charge against Onnoghen?

“I doubt it, from the look of things. Well, let’s wait and see.”

In a similar development, embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, will on April 15 know when a verdict will be given in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Onnoghen is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on a six-count charge of false and non-declaration of assets.

The development was sequel to the sudden closure of his case at the tribunal by his lawyer.

Having closed his case after calling one witness, Onnoghen’s counsel, at Wednesday’s proceeding, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, of the defendant’s intention not to call another witness.

In view of the development, the tribunal has given the prosecution and defence counsel three days each to file their final written addresses.

The tribunal further directed that the addresses would be finally adopted on April 15, after which the judgment date would be fixed.

The prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN), had earlier closed his case after calling three witnesses.

It would be recalled that the lead defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had indicated on Monday that he would be calling “two or three witnesses,” to prove Onnoghen’s innocence.

More so, Onnoghen’s lawyer had, on Monday, applied for and caused the CCT chairman to issue a subpoena to be served on an officer of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mrs. Theresa Nwafor.

Mrs. Nwafor was to appear on Wednesday to testify as the second defence witness before Uche announced closure of Onnoghen’s case.

Uche did not ascertain whether or not Nwafor was in court.

“My lords, today is for continuation of trial. But my lords, after a deep review of the evidence led by the prosecution and the defence, the defence has come to conclusion and we have closed our case.

“Pursuant to paragraph 14 of the Practice Direction of this honourable tribunal, we apply to file our final written addresses,” Uche said.

Reacting, the prosecuting counsel informed the tribunal that Uche had given him prior knowledge to close the defence case on Wednesday.

He urged the tribunal to use its discretion to allot time for the filing of final addresses by the parties.

https://www.independent.ng/njc-meeting-on-onnoghen-muhammad-ends-in-deadlock/

Ratello:
Goner indeed!

You dey mind those mofos

Bighead9:
I'm proud of Amaechi and Buratai, they are both my Heroes from today.
It doesn't matter how you kill your enemy, provided you succeeded in.killing him by the end of the day.

So the killer is now the one been demisified

Afamed:
Jonnyessense and Engineerboat come and defend your paymaster.

Ta lo gunyan fun he to ni tobe o soro

dante0147:
All I see on here are desperate Nit wits who don’t know this are just allegations ... Just like the Millions of dollars accusation and 55 houses which later turned out other wise !! Efcc and their Media Trial never seize to amaze me Lol... THE MORE FOOLISH ONES ARE THE ONES COMMENTING RUBBISH TRYING TO SUPPORT TYRANNY! I AM NOT SUPRISRD BY THEM BECAUSE ONCE THIS SLLEGATION IS PROVED OTHERWISE YOU WONT SEE THEM COMMENTING.. Awon buhari media campaign werey!

You they mind them

See how Onnoghen finish them here

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-i-never-took-a-bribe-onnoghen-defends-himself-before-njc-full-text/amp

omogidi234:
What has EFCC got to do with asset declaration? If he has committed any crime, let them take necessary steps and prosecute him, they don't have any business with assets declaration!

I wonder hooo.

See how Onnoghen finish EFCC here

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-i-never-took-a-bribe-onnoghen-defends-himself-before-njc-full-text/amp

garfield1:
Guy,the efcc evidence and investigations are watertight.they have really commented onnoghen.he will be fined guilty.up buhari

Am not sure you've gone though this.

Go through it.

It will quench your ignorance

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-i-never-took-a-bribe-onnoghen-defends-himself-before-njc-full-text/amp

babyfaceafrica:
super story

Small children everywhere

11.1 Conclusion

It is noteworthy that this petition is not based on any direct complaint from anybody against the Respondent in the discharge of His official functions as a judicial officer but rather intelligence reports gathered by the EFCC.
The Power of NJC is limited to the investigation of misconduct arising from or occurring in the discharge of judicial functions and not crime at large.
The question to be asked is, has any of the allegations in this petition raised any issue bothering on judicial misconduct?
The answer is obviously NO.
All the bank accounts listed by the EFCC were legitimately opened and It has not been shown that having bank accounts amount to a misconduct or a crime.
The Respondent has led credible evidence to show that all the lodgments into the accounts were legitimate earnings, allowances, estacodes and profits from His investment which the EFCC have not been able to disprove.
The various statements of account tendered showed no money lodgment came from any suspicious source.
The USD30, 000 lodgment by Joe Agi SAN was sufficiently explained by Joe Agi himself to be money given to him by the Respondent to deposit upon the opening of the Domiciliary Account which evidence was corroborated by the Respondent.

There is also no direct evidence beyond the mere suspicion that the sums were paid to influence decisions of the In Okereke v. The State (No. 1) (2016) 5 NWLR (Part 1504) 69 at Page 101 D, the Supreme Court per Peter-Odili, JSC held as follows: “Again brought out is the fact that all that may have been available to the Court did not go beyond suspicion which no matter how high or grave cannot ground a conviction in a court of law.”
It is submitted that the Respondent not being the CJN at the material time when the cash gifts were given was not in a position to constitute panel that will hear and determine appeal at the Supreme Court in cases involving the SAN’s.

There is also no evidence of any breach of the rules of Code of Conduct for judicial officers and or any member of the public alleging compromise or misconduct in the performance of his judicial function arising from the traditional cash We refer this Honourable Committee to Rule 13.4(b), 13.5 (2)(i) and Rule 13.5 (2)(iii) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For Service On

Counsel For the Petitioner

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Rotimi Oyedepo, Esq

rotimi-oyedepo@yahoo.com

9.1 ALLEGATION OF CONVERTING PUBLIC FUNDS UNDER GUISE OF ESTACODES FOR THE WIFE OF THE CJN – ABSENCE OF MERIT

Again, in paragraph viii at page 5 of the petition dated 5thMarch 2019, the petitioner alleged, ‘viii That his Lordship used his position as the Chief Justice of Nigeria to convert public funds under the guise of estacodes for his wife who was not in the employment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. See Annexture j, Supreme Court letter dated 19th February, 2019 to the EFCC with attached receipt of payment.’
With respect to the authors of the petition, the above allegation is derived from the ignorance on the practice and convention at the Supreme Court which did not start with the Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen where a Justice of the Supreme Court is entitled to attend events and seminars outside the country with his or her spouse. The practice and convention allows payment of half of the estacode received by the Justice to the spouse. This was an uncontradicted evidence before this Panel. Accordingly, the allegation at paragraph viii of page 5 of the petitioner dated 5th March 2019 to the effect that His Lordship converted public funds under the guise of paying estacodes to his wife ought to be dismissed.
In his reply dated 11thMarch 2019, the respondent sated clearly: ‘With regard to the allowances payable for both domestic and international trips, please see annexure “E” dated 28th May 2007 referenced as CJN/NJC/55C/VOL111/731 covering all judicial officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and signed by the then CJN, now late Hon. Mr. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, the practice is to pay half the sum due to the judicial officer to the spouse and multiply it by the number of days/weeks required for the trip. (viii) With regards to item (viii), I had earlier stated that the practice in the Court as I met it in 2005 and which still continues to date is for every Justice and the Chief Justice of Nigeria to travel for international conferences with his/her spouse, both of whom are entitled to estacode irrespective of the place of employment of the spouse as the payment is not as a result of being employed in the Supreme Court of Nigeria but as a spouse of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I remember my first international conference when I joined the Supreme Court. It-was held in the Czech Republic and I attended it with the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Mohammed Uwais, one of his wives and my dear wife. We flew British Airways. At that time, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and all Justices of the Supreme Court, traveled first class together with their spouses:. At least, they’ were paid the amount for first class tickets though some may decide to save money by traveling Business or even Economy Class. No one ever questioned them or required a refund of the difference.
The above was never contradicted by the In any event, it remains the practice and convention in the Supreme Court. This Honourable Committee is urged to hold that no misconduct whatsoever can be ascribed to the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria based on the convention which he did not start regarding spouses of all Justices and the CJN, attending conferences with the Justices and receiving half of the estacode approved by the management of the Supreme Court.
10.1 RECEIPT OF CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE CHIEF PROTOCOL OFFICER

Paragraphs vi and vii (p.3) of the petition dated 5th March 2019 alleged that His Lordship received the following from Ngozi Laura It claimed that the payments are public funds that ought to have been returned to the treasury of the Federal Government. It alleged that His Lordship converted the funds to his personal use.
S/N AMOUNT DATE
1 N678,000.00 27/07/2017
2 N1,070,000.00 02/08/2017
3 N692,000.00 15/09/2017
4 N1,600,000.00 15/11/2018
5 N1,916,000.00 20/03/2018
6 N532,000.00 06/07/2018
7 N2,198,760.00 27/06/2018
8 N3,384,090.00 03/07/2018
9 N1,287,000.00 09/08/2018
10 N2,608,000.00 24/09/2018
11 N9,203,602.00 05/11/2018
TOTAL N24,169,452.00
On the face of the petition, the impression was given that Nogzi Laura Nwankwo was used as a tool for transferring funds from the Supreme Court to the CJN. This allegation is malicious. Evidence revealed that Ngozi Laura Nwankwo is the Head of the Protocol Unit at the Supreme Court. Funds for the tickets of the Hon. Justices are paid to the public officer who procures the tickets or pay the funds to the Justice.
Nothing shows that the Honourable justices return funds given to them for the tickets except in respect of trips they did not eventually undertake.

The Honourable Committee is urged to take cognizance of Pw 5 under cross examination, PW5 admitted, ‘The fund to be involved in the trips are worked out by the Protocol unit, not by the CJN or individual Justices. All the money passed through my account to the CJN and other Justices were legitimate monies, approved for their travels’.
In his response dated 11th March 2019, His Lordship stated as follows; ‘I have to state that Mrs Ngozi Laura Nwankwo is the present head of the Protocol Department of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and whatever payments she made into my account are done in that capacity as they relate to her duties and my entitlements. Payments listed under this head are therefore refunds to me except item 11 which was paid by the court direct into my account in anticipation of my trip to Egypt and Spain early this’ year which was aborted due to the present contrived crisis. I have to point out that in some cases where the price of air tickets became higher than estimated, I had to make up the difference and that by the practices of the court, every Justice of the Supreme Court is entitled to attend international conferences with his l her spouse and while the Justice and his/her spouse is entitled to a Business Class ticket, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his spouse are entitled to first class tickets…….
In respect of items (i) & (vii) I am accused of receiving If the petitioners are after the truth, they should ask for and make available to the panel, a comprehensive record of payments and for air tickets and estacodes to all Justices of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of Nigeria for you to see whether I Have done anything outside the practice I cane to meet in the Court.

The above remain the truth and uncontradicted.

3.0 THE SECOND PETITION DATED 5TH MARCH, 2019

4.0 ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION

The defence submits, that the sole issue for determination is, WHETHER BASED ON FACTS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THE PETITIONER HAS ESTABLISHED ANY MISCONDUCT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS JUDICIAL FUNCTION?

5.1 FRESH ALLEGATIONS CONTAINING VERY MALICIOUS AND SPECULATIVE SUBMISSIONS TO THE NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL BY THE PETITIONER

This Honourable Committee will, very graciously observe that the second petition dated 5th March 2019, vide reference EFCC/EC/CJN/05/95 was submitted to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on 5th March 2019 at 30 p.m during the hearing of the first petition by this Honourable Committee. The Honourable Committee is urged to confirm whether this petition went through preliminary assessments as provided by Rules 17 and 18 of the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017. If it did not, then the petition is incompetent. Be that as it may, the Respondent effectively responded to all the issues raised by this second petition and cleared all the malicious and speculative issues raised by the prosecution as evident from the following:

5.3 APPEARANCE OF JOE AGI IN SUIT NO. SC/3/2010 AND ALLEGED RECEIPT OF MERCEDES BENZ GL 450 VALUED N7,000,000.00 FROM JOE AGI, SAN

As this Honourable Committee graciously observed during the hearing of the petition, the Suit SC/3/2010 is the consolidated suit Nos SC.3/2010, SC.51/2010 and SC.54/2010. It is reported in [2010] 19 NWLR (Part 1226) 172.

The law report contains the entire history of the As evident at pages 208 and 209 of the law report, Joe Agi, SAN was neither Counsel nor did he appear for any of the parties at the High Court and Court of Appeal. In the Supreme Court, Joe Agi, SAN was one out of 12 Counsel who appeared for the Appellants in the Supreme Court (please see, p.207 and 208 of the law report) or the appearances page of the electronic law report submitted by the petitioner themselves. In order of seniority, Joe Agi SAN was the fifth (5th) Senior Advocate for the Appellants. In other words, he appeared as a junior to 4 other Senior Advocates in the matter.

Mahmud Mohammed, JSC (as he then was), later CJN presided over the Other members of the Panel were: Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, JSC (as he then was, now CJN), Francis Fedode Tabai, JSC, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, JSC and Christopher Michell Chukwumah-Eneh, JSC. Accordingly, the Hon. Justice

W.S.N. Onnoghen was only one out of the 5 member Panel of the Supreme Court.

It is thus, malicious to link the appearance of Joe Agi, SAN before the Supreme Court in the above matter to any purported gift to one of the Justices who sat on the Panel.
In his evidence in Chief on 20thMarch 2019, Joe Agi, SAN informed this Honourable Committee that the car issue happened in 2008 and that His Lordship ordered for the car and paid for it by The referenced case was in December 2010. Joe Agi, SAN also stated that the car was neither a bribe nor a gift but was purchased by His Lordship. He stated that he was the one that informed the EFCC voluntarily about the car His Lordship bought through his U.S Company which has a car dealership licence in the United States so to illustrate his long standing relationship with His Lordship. Surprisingly, the EFCC then turned around to label it as a bribe.
This Honourable Committee will observe that there is nothing before the Panel to show that the car was a bribe to His Lordship and was in any way connected to the case.
Under cross examination, Harry Erin, an operative of the EFCC who testified on behalf of the prosecution as PW7 admitted: ‘I see Exhibit P10. There is nowhere in Exhibit 10 where it was stated the Respondent compromised himself with any matter or case before him. There is no where it is stated in the petition that the Respondent received bribe. I never said any of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria offered the Respondent bribe.
Regarding the car, PW7 stated in his examination-In-Chief: ‘According to the bank, N700,000 was paid by the Respondent to Joe Agi after 4 years. Joe Agi said some of the payments were made in cash.’
Thus, PW7 agreed he found some consideration from the Respondent to Joe Agi, SAN as part payment thereby confirming the position of both Joe Agi, SAN and the Respondent that the car was paid for instalmentally by the Respondent.
It is respectfully submitted, that the allegations in paragraphs 1 and 11 of the second petition dated 5th March 2019 by the petitioner be dismissed, having been fully heard and found baseless.
On a separate score, it should be noted that the complaint on the car is coming to the National judicial Council in 2019, after 10 (ten) years contrary to Rule 11(1) & (2) of the National Judicial Council’s Judicial Discipline Regulations of 29th June It should also be dismissed on this separate score. However, as earlier stated, the Respondent proffered detailed explanations while the allegations from the evidence before the Panel, are baseless and malicious.
6.1 Alleged Receipt of Pecuniary Gifts

In paragraph (iii) at page 2 of its second petition dated 5thMarch 2019, the petitioner alleged that His Lordship received pecuniary gifts from the following and on the following

S/N NAME AMOUNT DATE
1 OGUNSANYA ADEWUNMI N250,000 22/5/15
2 PAUL USORO (SAN) N350,000 22/4/15
3 EMEKA ETIABA (SAN) N250,000 19/5/15
4 ONYECHI IKPEAZU (SAN) N300,00 19/5/15
5 EZE DURU IHEOMA SAN N100,000 6/03/15
In his evidence-In-Chief, the Respondent explained that the gifts were made at a time of the marriage ceremony of his first daughter, Oremini Nkanu Onnoghen who got married sometime in It was not solicited and remains a part and parcel of the customs and traditions of the people. His Lordship tendered a copy of the wedding invitation which was admitted in evidence without objection by the petitioner as Exhibit R9.
The Panel will observe that all the gifts of N250,000, N350,000, N250,000, N300,000 and N100,000 respectively were made within the period of the wedding shown in exhibit From the evidence of the petitioner/prosecution itself, there were no other payments made by those persons or by any other lawyer into the account of the Respondent prior to or after the said period of the wedding of the daughter.
Accordingly, no misconduct can be seen or inferred from the unsolicited customary gifts said to be given to His It had nothing to do with the discharge of his duties as a judicial offer. By Rule 13.5(2) of the Revised Code of Conduct For Judicial officers (Published February, 2016) a judicial office is permitted to accept – (i) Personal gifts or benefits from relatives or personal friends to such extent and on such occasions as are recognized by custom
The statements of three of the persons alleged to have given the gifts which they made to the EFCC are before this Nothing in them show that the gifts were meant to bribe or induce His Lordship in the performance of his duties as a judicial officer. Nothing before this Committee contradicted the statements. It ought to be accepted as the true facts.
7.1 Alleged Linkage of the Gifts to Cases Before the Supreme Court

Research and common sense show that the allegations made by the petitioner linking the gifts to cases before the Supreme Court are baseless.
During his cross examination of His Lordship on 26th March 2019 at about 45 p.m, learned counsel for the petitioner claimed that in SC 457/2016, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN appeared before the Supreme Court in a Panel where the Hon. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen was a member of the Panel and therefore the gift of N300,000 by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN must have been to influence His Lordship in that case.
SC/457/2016 is reported in [2017] 11 NWLR (part 1575) This is the case of Metuh V FGN & Anor.
The list of Honourable Justices who sat on the Panel regarding 457/2016 is reproduced at p.157 of the law report. The Honourable Justices were: Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC (Presided), Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, JSC, Kudirat Motonmori O. Kekere-Ekun, JSC, Ejembi Eko, JSC and Sidi Dauda Bage, JSC.
Contrary to the allegation by the EFCC/petitioner, the Mr. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen was not in the Panel. For this reason, the defence specifically submits that the linkage of the Hon. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen to this manner is a desperate attempt by the petitioner to destroy His Lordship’s hard earned years of selfless service to the nation and to mankind.
As evident from pages 168 and 179-186 of the law report, although Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN and Emeka Etiaba, SAN appeared for the Appellant/Applicant in the case, they lost the appeal/application before the Supreme Court.
Could Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN and Emeka Etiaba, SAN have given a gift of N300,000 and N250,000 respectively in 2015 to 5 (five) Supreme Court Justices though one of the Justices (Hon. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen) who was not in the Panel to enable them loose a case before the Supreme Court in 2017 (two years thereafter)? The answer is an obvious No!
As evident from facts before the Committee, the Supreme Court delivered its ruling on 9thJune 2017 while the customary wedding gifts arose in Clearly, there is no nexus between the two. For ease of reference, the defence has forwarded to the Committee a copy of the law report.
7.9 Another case which the learned counsel for the Petitioner linked to the gifts by Paul Usoro, SAN was SC.27/2010. Research shows that the case is reported as [2011] 8 N.W.L.R. (pt 1248) 321. It is the case of Attorney-General, Rivers State V AG, Akwa Ibom & Anor.

The members of the Panel were: Aloysius Katsina-Alu, CJN who presided and read the leading Judgment, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, JSC, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad JSC, John Afolabi Fabiyi, JSC, Olufunlola O. Adekeye, JSC, Suleiman Galadima, JSC and Bode Rhodes Vivour, JSC.
The Supreme Court is not a one man In this case, a full Panel of 7 Honourable Justices sat on the matter.The plaintiff invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
The judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered on Friday 18thMarch 2011 while the issue of the customary gifts by Paul Usoro, SAN came up in 2015, 4 years thereafter
As evident in pages 78, 114-218, Paul Usoro, SAN appeared along with 7 other counsel for the first The first defendant who Paul Usoro, SAN appeared for lost the case. Judgment was given in favour of the plaintiff.
Thus, the claim of the petitioner linking the customary gift of Paul Usoro, SAN to a member of the Panel of 7 Justices is in conflict with common Could Paul Usoro, SAN have given a gift of N300,000 to 7 Supreme Court Justices through one of the Justices in 2015 due to a case he lost before the Supreme Court 4 years earlier.
The answer is an obvious No!! Those allegations ought to be For ease of reference, the defence has forwarded to the Panel a copy of the law report.
8.1 ALLEGATION OF RECEIVING ESTACODES IN US DOLLARS –

Paragraphs vi, vii and viii of the second petition dated 5th March 219 alleged that His Lordship received the cash payments in S Dollars from the Supreme Court in excess of the threshold authorized by law. The figures were given at pages 4 and 5 of the petition to as follows:
S/N DATE AMOUNT $
1 17/03/2017 27,000.00
2 30/03/2017 21,000.00
3 21/04/2017 24,000.00
4 9/06/2017 27,000.00
5 24/07/2017 36,000.00
6 29/09/2017 26,000.00
7 9/09/2017 30,000.00
8 31/10/2017 33,000.00


S/N DATE AMOUNT $
1 26/03/2018 23,000.00
2 5/06/2018 20,000.00
3 4/07/2018 26,000.00
4 9/07/2018 36,000.00
5 4/08/2018 32,000.00
6 2/02/2018 35,000.00
7 18/09/2018 23,000.00
8 07/12/2018 26,000.00
9 07/12/2018 32,000.00
At the hearing of the petition R1, the Director of Finance of the Supreme Court in his examination-In-Chief gave the following evidence which was not neither contradicted nor controverted in any way by the petitioner: ‘I am familiar with the practice of the CJN and Hon. Justices going on any official engagement outside the country or even a local travel. The CJN will give the nomination to the C.R. The C.R will be given the travel documents to process and the C.R will then approve the processing. The C.R. sends the approval to the Accounts to pay. Account will calculate the DTA. If it is outside the country, accounts will calculate the Estacodes. Vouchers will be prepared and sent to the cash office. Cash office will issue mandates. Then the forex will be sourced. When the process is completed, the Head of Estacodes together with the cashier will go to the Justice concerned and pay him the cash. The Justice will sign for the cash. We will take the cash in the currency to the Justice to sign. It is paid in foreign currency. It includes the CJN. He signs also. There is a register kept in the Supreme Court for that purpose where all Justices, including the CJN sign. Account does not determine the amount of the estacode. There is a circular we follow. The CJN does not determine how much he takes. There is a circular stating the amount payable to Justices by the Supreme Court. It was signed by the Hon. Justice Lejbo Kutigi… tha t is the pr a ctice I met at the Supreme Court. The practice of signing to collect cash did not start with the Hon. Justice Onnoghen.
The above uncontradicted evidence of the Director of Finance of the Supreme Court answers the allegation in paragraph vi and viii (pages 4 and 5) of the petition dated 5thMarch Receiving estacodes by cash is a practice, a convention of the Supreme Court which did not start with the Hon. Justice W.S.N. Onnoghen, CJN and applies to all Honourable Justices and other staff of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, those allegations are devoid of any misconduct in the performance of His Lordship’s judicial functions. The same applies to all Honourable Justices and all retired Justices and Chief Justices. Those allegations ought to be dismissed.

WRITTEN ADDRESS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNSEL TO THE RESPONDENT AS OBTAINED BY THECABLE
Introduction

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sent two (2) petitions to the Chairman, National Judicial Council through the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria against The Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The first petition is dated 4th February, 2019 vide reference EFCC/EC/GC/31/2253 while the second petition is dated 5thMarch 2019 vide reference EFCC/EC/CJN/05/59.

The petition was forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria by the National Judicial Council vide a memo dated 11thFebruary 2019 reference NJC/F1/SC.3/1/570 following the 17th Emergency meeting of the Council held the same 11th February 2019.

By a response dated 19thFebruary 2019, vide reference CJN/WSN0/28/Vol.1/54, the Justice Walter S.N. Onnoghen, GCON, the Chief Justice of Nigeria reacted to the first petition.

Similarly, by a response dated 11th March 2019 vide reference CJN/WSN0/28/Vol.1/83, His Lordship reacted to the further This written address covers the petitions and is in support of the Respondent’s position that the petitions dated 4thFebruary 2019 and 5th March 2019 are without merit and ought to be dismissed.

2.1 Statement of Facts

Having commenced hearing on 14th March 2019, the prosecution called 7 (seven) prosecution witnesses while the defence called three (3) witnesses including His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria. Hearing ended on Tuesday 26th March 2019. The Honourable Committee directed the learned Counsel for both the Prosecution and the Defence to file written addresses and serve each other as well as the Committee. This is the written address on behalf of the Respondent.

EXCLUSIVE: I never took a bribe, Onnoghen defends himself before NJC (full text)


Walter Onnoghen, the suspended chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), has denied all allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the National Judicial Council (NJC).

EFCC accused him of “financial impropriety, infidelity to the constitution and other economic and financial crimes related laws” and asked that he be punished accordingly.

This case is different from the one before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

If the NJC upholds the allegations, Onnoghen could be removed as CJN and asked to face criminal trial.

Responding to EFCC’s petition, Onnoghen’s lawyers, R.A. Lawal-Rabana, Okon Nkanu Efut, J.U.K. Igwe, George Ibrahim, Victoria Agi, Orji Ude Ekumankama, Opeyemi Origunloye, and Temitayo Fiki, dismissed all the allegations.

In their detailed response, Onnoghen’s lawyers denied all allegations of bribery and corruption.

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-i-never-took-a-bribe-onnoghen-defends-himself-before-njc-full-text/amp

This is a statement as it is from NJC panel

seunprodigy13:
just like the dancing senator..ur illiteracy is legendary

Ta lo gunyan fun he toni tobe o soro

APC zombies una continue hooo.

Una eyes go soon clear las las

Johnnyessence:
Egbon engineerboat, that's their political gimmicks . Apc has loose this battle already. Distinguished senator Ademola Adeleke will be victorious in the appeal court and Supreme Court. The evidence is there for everyone to see.

APC are not serious.

Juncketting from court to court about.

No wonder their house is in disarray

Afamed:
When did any Appeal Court make any pronouncement nullifying Omo Agege primary election? Truly PDP e wailers are propagandists

The court said the plaintiffs could not claim to be unaware of the case, and as such they could not seek to be joined or challenge the judgement at this moment

deomelo:
Rubbish.


He tendered forged result to INEC. PERIOD..

Typicall APC BMC


Press Statement

Ademola Adeleke: Flawed Bwari Judgement Won't Stand


We receive with shock and bewilderment the judgement of a Bwari High Court on the propriety of the statement of results of Senator Ademola Adeleke as a contestant for the governorship of Osun state.The judgement delivered today subverted justice by ignoring four critical evidence to rule against validated facts and submissions.

While we are set to appeal the judgement ,we also find it compelling to put the records straight by listing out the fatal flaws in the ruling and why it cannot stand before a superior court.

It would be recalled first of all that the matter in question has been addressed by two High Courts ruling ,affirming that in the face of the constitution,Senator
Ademola Adeleke is qualified to run for the governorship. The two rulings delivered in September 2018 held that Senator Adeleke satisfied requirement of the law to contest for office.It is trite in law that once a court of coordinate jurisdiction has ruled on a matter ,court of similar jurisdiction cannot entertain it.Shockingly,the Bwari judge breached this precept to subvert justice.

Secondly ,we want to note that the judge erred in law by failing to take note of the expiration of 180 days for ruling on pre-election matters.Even when a December 2018 judgement with respect to the issue was presented, the judge ignored it. We note that the judge violated the law by adjudicating over a matter whose filing and hearing period has expired.

Thirdly,the West African Examination Council was also summoned by the court at the instance of the plaintiff to present evidence of facts.The council produced the listing of all students who sat for the May/June examination in 1981 alongside the Senator.The Council produced certified true copies of school results.

The Council produced evidence which proved that Senator Ademola Adeleke was indeed educated up to secondary school level as stipulated by law and therefore qualified to run for the governorship, the judge still went ahead to rule otherwise.The WAEC at no point denounced the secondary school qualification of Senator Adeleke.The only statutory body empowered by law to determine authenticity of a secondary results is the West African Examination Council.The Council not only witnessed in support of Senator Adeleke but also presented certified true copies of his school results.What other evidence the judge needs to rule in favour of the Senator is not clear.

Fourthly, the plaintif shocked by WAEC testimony, again filed request that the court compelled the school principal to appear in court to produce evidence of facts as well as to confirm the authenticity of the statement of results. The principal appeared and confirmed that the statement was a product of the school and that any error on the statement was that of the school ,not that of Senator Adeleke.The school did not at any point disowned the statement of results .The school owned up to the error which was not about forgery but alleged false information.

From the foregoing ,we affirm that today's judgement of the Bwari court is a travesty of justice, a purchased ruling designed to negatively affect the outcome of Osun governorship legal tussle.We declare unequivocally that the ruling being so glaringly against tested facts and the law cannot stand.It is also clear that the ruling cannot in anyway stop the reality that Ademola Adeleke fulfilled constitutional requirements to stand for the governorship as confirmed by the WAEC,the school principal and previous judgements on the matter.

We appeal to our numerous supporters and good people of Osun state to remain calm
This is another failed bid in the efforts of detractors to stop the realisation of Peoples mandate.We are marching ahead as before the law,our candidate, Ademola Adeleke is qualified to seek the governorship and before people and God ,he is the governor elect of Osun state.

Signed

Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation.

Hotfreezer:
PDP has stolen the money for this one's education. See his grammar like dance steps of a blind cripple.

Press Statement

Ademola Adeleke: Flawed Bwari Judgement Won't Stand


We receive with shock and bewilderment the judgement of a Bwari High Court on the propriety of the statement of results of Senator Ademola Adeleke as a contestant for the governorship of Osun state.The judgement delivered today subverted justice by ignoring four critical evidence to rule against validated facts and submissions.

While we are set to appeal the judgement ,we also find it compelling to put the records straight by listing out the fatal flaws in the ruling and why it cannot stand before a superior court.

It would be recalled first of all that the matter in question has been addressed by two High Courts ruling ,affirming that in the face of the constitution,Senator
Ademola Adeleke is qualified to run for the governorship. The two rulings delivered in September 2018 held that Senator Adeleke satisfied requirement of the law to contest for office.It is trite in law that once a court of coordinate jurisdiction has ruled on a matter ,court of similar jurisdiction cannot entertain it.Shockingly,the Bwari judge breached this precept to subvert justice.

Secondly ,we want to note that the judge erred in law by failing to take note of the expiration of 180 days for ruling on pre-election matters.Even when a December 2018 judgement with respect to the issue was presented, the judge ignored it. We note that the judge violated the law by adjudicating over a matter whose filing and hearing period has expired.

Thirdly,the West African Examination Council was also summoned by the court at the instance of the plaintiff to present evidence of facts.The council produced the listing of all students who sat for the May/June examination in 1981 alongside the Senator.The Council produced certified true copies of school results.

The Council produced evidence which proved that Senator Ademola Adeleke was indeed educated up to secondary school level as stipulated by law and therefore qualified to run for the governorship, the judge still went ahead to rule otherwise.The WAEC at no point denounced the secondary school qualification of Senator Adeleke.The only statutory body empowered by law to determine authenticity of a secondary results is the West African Examination Council.The Council not only witnessed in support of Senator Adeleke but also presented certified true copies of his school results.What other evidence the judge needs to rule in favour of the Senator is not clear.

Fourthly, the plaintif shocked by WAEC testimony, again filed request that the court compelled the school principal to appear in court to produce evidence of facts as well as to confirm the authenticity of the statement of results. The principal appeared and confirmed that the statement was a product of the school and that any error on the statement was that of the school ,not that of Senator Adeleke.The school did not at any point disowned the statement of results .The school owned up to the error which was not about forgery but alleged false information.

From the foregoing ,we affirm that today's judgement of the Bwari court is a travesty of justice, a purchased ruling designed to negatively affect the outcome of Osun governorship legal tussle.We declare unequivocally that the ruling being so glaringly against tested facts and the law cannot stand.It is also clear that the ruling cannot in anyway stop the reality that Ademola Adeleke fulfilled constitutional requirements to stand for the governorship as confirmed by the WAEC,the school principal and previous judgements on the matter.

We appeal to our numerous supporters and good people of Osun state to remain calm
This is another failed bid in the efforts of detractors to stop the realisation of Peoples mandate.We are marching ahead as before the law,our candidate, Ademola Adeleke is qualified to seek the governorship and before people and God ,he is the governor elect of Osun state.

Signed

Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation.

Hotfreezer:
Guy, try to connect your brain with your fingers before typing.

Stop thinking with your Anus then

APC clogging to the straw