FG Bars Onnoghen From Travelling, Seizes His Passport…Security agents accost ex – CJN, wife , daughter at Abuja airport

FG Bars Onnoghen From Travelling, Seizes His Passport

…Security agents accost ex – CJN, wife , daughter at Abuja airport

The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria , Walter Onnoghen , has been barred from travelling out of the country by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ) .

Saturday PUNCH reports that the move may be part of a fresh probe into Onnoghen ’s affairs . Onnoghen was convicted for not declaring his assets by the Code of Conduct Tribunal in April .

An internal report issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service , which was read out to our correspondent by a top officer , stated that Onnoghen , his wife and daughter were attempting to travel to Accra, Ghana when they were accosted by immigration officers.

The report stated , “ On November 11 , 2019 , retired Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen , was attempting to travel to Accra, Ghana . He was in company with his wife , Nkoyo , and daughter .

“ His passport , with number A 50445233 , was flagged because Justice Onnoghen ’ s name was on the watch list . The passport is currently in custody of the NIS . ”

The senior officer told Saturday PUNCH that the passport seized from Onnoghen was not a diplomatic passport but the ordinary green passport .

The immigration officer told our correspondent that the directive to seize Onnoghen ’s passport came from the Presidency .

“ Justice Onnoghen will have to meet with the Presidency to know why his passport was seized. We are only following instructions, ” the officer said.

Saturday PUNCH was informed by a top judicial officer that Onnoghen ’s decision to challenge his conviction by the CCT might have angered the retired Muhammadu Buhari regime .

The Appeal Court had condemned the Buhari regime for the manner in which the trial of Onnoghen was conducted .

In a judgment by the three -man bench led by Justice Stephen Adah , it was unanimously ruled that the CCT ’s ex parte order breached the ex – CJN’ s right to a fair hearing .

While reading the lead judgment , Justice Adah stated that the proceedings of the CCT shouldn ’ t have been conducted “ in a shady or clandestine manoeuvre ” the way the ex parte order was obtained.