If President Muhammadu Buhari goes by the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Walter Onnoghen, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) could get retirement benefits in cash and kind up to N2.5 billion, checks by TheCable have revealed.

As part of the package for a retired chief justice, a house will be built for him in Abuja with a nine-digit sum for furnishing — in addition to a severance gratuity that is 300% of his annual basic salary of N3,363,972.50, as well as pension for life.

Just like state governors, a retired chief justice is entitled to a number of domestic staff and sundry allowances for personal upkeep.

This package for judicial officers was put together by the NJC long before Onnoghen became the CJN in 2017.

However, if he is dismissed, he will not be entitled to any benefits.

TheCable reported on Wednesday that the NJC has recommended the embattled CJN for compulsory retirement after deliberating on a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which alleges “financial impropriety, infidelity to the constitution and other economic and financial crimes related laws”.

Onnoghen, who denies all allegations, is also undergoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over charges of false asset declaration.

TheCable understands that members of the NJC were not convinced by his defence but also decided that he should be offered a “soft landing” through retirement.

This option may also include withdrawing criminal charges against him.

“The major problem Onnoghen’s defence had was that even though he claimed those funds found in his accounts were his, he could not provide evidence on how he made the money,” a source in the know of the deliberations told TheCable.

“He provided evidence of source of income from one investment but that went nowhere near the $200,000 per annum deposits in his account. Unfortunately, there is a supreme court judgement that says where your assets exceed your income, the burden of proof is on you, not on the prosecution.

“It also did not help Onnoghen that he never touched his salary account for so many years. He said he was living off the proceeds from his farms, but he did not provide a single proof to back this up.

“Also, money paid into his account by senior lawyers is completely unethical. You can say they do not amount to much, but you cannot justify such impunity. It was a very difficult case to make.”

NOT THAT EASY

Presidency sources, however, told TheCable that the option of “soft landing” will be difficult to justify “given the anti-corruption efforts of President Buhari”.

TheCable learnt that before the scandal blew into the open, Onnoghen was given the option of early voluntary retirement.

“Under this arrangement, he would have kept all the monies found in his accounts and received all his benefits from the system, but he chose to fight till the very end,” the source said.

“The implication now is that the criminal charges may go on, his assets will be frozen and will most likely be forfeited to the federal government after his trial and he will be banned from holding public office for at least 10 years.”

Onnoghen has closed his defence at the CCT and the tribunal is expected to give its judgment at the next sitting on April 15.

But for the crisis, Onnoghen, who is 68, was due for retirement in 2020.


https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-onnoghen-stands-to-get-n2-5bn-benefits-in-soft-landing-option/amp

Mmmmmh


https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-onnoghen-stands-to-get-n2-5bn-benefits-in-soft-landing-option

Am I missing something here?

I have checked the web repeatedly and the only site reporting onnoghen's retirement remains TheCable and a handful of other unknown sites.

dashing out nation !!

It will not be well with farmers of the constitution. It will not be well with them.

Kindly see the benefits of service. The poor and average who labor in sweat suffer post retirement while the rich and wealthy who enjoy through service enjoy more benefits post retirement.

Whatever you must do within the ambit of the law to eradicate poverty and struggle from your lineage, please do. Life is rigged against the simple and twisted against the poor but wealth is stealth.

Richdad

My question is

Should he enjoy such benefits, knowing fully well that he has enriched himself over and above the sum benefits using the same office.

They should advice him to resign and forfeit the benefits if found wanting on the allegations. That is the only reasonable soft landing they should be seeking. Promoting judiciary misconducts in any way is injustice to the nation.

Kole werk

Na wa o

Why our money no go finish

G

cool

Easy Money


I build websites and I am based in Abuja, see my signature

Nigerian Law is for the poor

He should fight to the end

This case is near no end

Because they have no case against him? If they do this, it proves his removal was a premeditated political calculation........

Cash so that he will resign and Buhari will be seen as a saint?
Onneghen God is by your side, you won them the first time, you will win them again

Ononghen is gone. I told you guys. Even the nation reported it. The two sources are credible enough.

We are about to reward corruption. The man can now go into full BDC business with that retirement pay.

Disgusting!

Afonja propaganda machine on the beat again.
They are trying desperately to cajole the man into resignation cos they have seen they have no case against him.
I trust Onnoghen, heard he's a stubborn man who would rather go to jail than be stampede out of office.

peacettw:
Am I missing something here?

I have checked the web repeatedly and the only site reporting onnoghen's retirement remains TheCable and a handful of other unknown sites.

Same way it was only Deji that was reporting execution of Nigeria soldiers.

TGM2015:
My question is

Should he enjoy such benefits, knowing fully well that he has enriched himself over and above the sum benefits using the same office.

They should advice him to resign and forfeit the benefits if found wanting on the allegations. That is the only reasonable soft landing they should be seeking. Promoting judiciary misconducts in any way is injustice to the nation.

He worked for the benefits, he should enjoy every bit of it, if he is guilty convict him, why cant they convict him.....Buhari should complete what he started

.

first of all. buhari doesn't have the constitutional right to suspend the CJN.

Are you not tired of being a donkey?
Do you need Jesus to tell you this is all politically motivated ??
Try and use your own thinking faculty sometimes, so in your mind you think he has 55 houses and billions of naira?
I hate sheeples!! People like you make govt throw stupid lies coz they know you got ur mouth open

TGM2015:
My question is

Should he enjoy such benefits, knowing fully well that he has enriched himself over and above the sum benefits using the same office.

They should advice him to resign and forfeit the benefits if found wanting on the allegations. That is the only reasonable soft landing they should be seeking. Promoting judiciary misconducts in any way is injustice to the nation.