I FORGOT TO DECLARE MY ASSET - WALTER ONNOGHEN DEFENDS SELF
Afnews Editor
Jan 13, 2019
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, has explained why he failed to declare his assets.
Onnoghen attributed his failure to declare his assets to forgetfulness.
READ ALSO: Birthday: Emenike Iroegbu Celebrates Ikechukwu Emetu, Praises His Support for Otti's Agenda
The embattled CJN explained that he thought that the form SCN 000015 filed in December 2016 was enough to cover for the declaration of his assets.
READ ALSO: A Loyal Force In Abia's Rebirth: Dogo Bende Celebrates Emetu's Leadership And Legacy
Baring any last minute change, the embattled CJN will be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Monday, over failure to declare his assets after his appointment as CJN.
An Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative had filed a petition against Onnoghen over the non declaration of his assets.
READ ALSO: GUU Pro-Chancellor Chief Onyema Ugochukwu Applauds University Management
The group alleged that Onnoghen failed to declare ownership of his domiciliary accounts.
Headed by one Denis Aghanya, the group said its petition was necessitated by the closeness of the 2019 elections and the importance of the judiciary before and after the elections.
READ ALSO: Wike Orders Mass Land Revocation in Abuja: 4,794 Property Owners Lose Titles | READ WHY
It said the petition was submitted "bearing in mind the imminence of the 2019 elections and the overwhelming role of the judiciary both before and after the election.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: Okorocha Should Be Investigated Over Orlu Crisis - Imo govt
Responding to the petition, Onnoghen, in a statement made to the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB said he ÔÇØforgot to update his asset declaration, after the expiration of his 2005 declarationÔÇØ.
READ ALSO: 211 oil, gas projects to start production in 2020
PremiumTimes quoted Onnoghen in his response to CCB on Friday as saying: "My asset declaration form numbers SCN 00014 and SCN 00005 were declared on the same day, 14/12/2016 because I forgot to make a declaration of my assets after the expiration of my 2005 declaration in 2009. Following my appointment as acting CJN in November, 2016, the need to declare my assets anew made me to realize the mistake.
READ ALSO: North Korea's Kim Makes First Appearance In Almost A Month | SEE PICTURE
"I then did the declaration to cover the period in default. I did not include my standard charted bank account in SCN 000014 because I believed they were not opened.
"I did not make a fresh declaration of asset after my substantive appointment as CJN because I was under the impression that my SCN 000015 was to cover that period of four years which includes my term as CJN.ÔÇØ (DP)
Related Stories
GRAND RECEPTION: Massive Crowd Endorses Alex Otti for 2027 as He Unveils Bold Plans to Transform Umuahia | WATCH VIDEO
Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso Challenges Youths on Enterprise, Leadership, Backs Continuity of Otti's Reforms
A Loyal Force In Abia's Rebirth: Dogo Bende Celebrates Emetu's Leadership And Legacy
Birthday: Former Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu Celebrates Ikechukwu Emetu, Offers Prayers for Strength in Building New Abia
Birthday: Emenike Iroegbu Celebrates Ikechukwu Emetu, Praises His Support for Otti's Agenda
REVEALED: Bende Youths Declare Total Support for Alex Otti's 2027 Return, Back Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso for Reps Seat
""
— Afnews Editor