Tobias Sylvester
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has reportedly barred the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, from travelling out of the country.
Punch reports that the move may be part of a fresh probe into Onnoghen’s affairs after he was convicted for not declaring his assets by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in April, 2019.
An internal report issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service, stated that Onnoghen, his wife and daughter were attempting to travel to Accra, Ghana when they were accosted by immigration officers.
“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 A50445233, was flagged because Justice Onnoghen’s name was on the watch list. The passport is currently in custody of the NIS,” the report reads.
A senior immigration officer told newsmen 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.
Th officer further revealed that the passport seized from Onnoghen was not a diplomatic passport but the ordinary green passport.
