FG closes case of non-asset declaration against Onnoghen

The Federal Government has closed its case of non-asset declaration charges against the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Onnoghen is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on a six-count charge over alleged failure to disclose some of his assets in his Asset Declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

However, the prosecution counsel, Aliyu Umar (SAN), announced that the prosecution is closing its case shortly after the defendant finished the cross examination of the third prosecution witness, Ifeoma Okeagbue, an official of Standard Chartered Bank.

The prosecution, in its application for the trial, had said it would be calling six witnesses to prove its case against Onnoghen.

However, at the end of the cross examination, the lead prosecution said though they initially listed six witnesses for the trial, it would not be calling on the remaining three, adding that he is offering them to the defence for cross examination if they so wished.

But, the counsel to the defendant, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said the defence does not need the witnesses, adding that the prosecution can go ahead to close its case if it so wishes.