Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) revealed to the Court of Appeal on Tuesday that it did not possess the case file for the trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Samuel Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.
Gatekeepers News reports that this admission came five years after Onnoghen’s trial and conviction at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The federal government’s representative, Tijani Gazali, informed the court that the trial was outsourced to a private lawyer, Aliyu Umar, who has since passed away. Gazali requested an adjournment to retrieve necessary documents from the late lawyer’s chambers.
However, Onnoghen’s counsel, Chris Uche, pointed out that some documents were served on the AGF’s office and acknowledged. The court granted an accelerated hearing, scheduling the appeal for September 19.
Onnoghen is seeking to overturn the CCT’s judgment, which removed him from office and ordered the forfeiture of his five bank accounts. The former CJN was present in court for the proceedings.
