The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday granted the request of the Federal Government to settle the appeal of unlawful removal from office brought by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen out of court.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2019 removed Justice Onnoghen, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria after charging him with false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
At the resumed hearing in the appeal however, the lead counsel to the former CJN, Dr. Ogwu Onoja, told the 3-member panel of justices of the Appellate Court that the two parties in the suit are already having discussions on a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Onoja told the panel that the parties have been in discussion up until Wednesday, September 18.
He expressed hope that the discussion would end up with a fruitful result and asked the court to give them a one-month adjournment for the final settlement of the matter.
The lawyer to the Federal Government, Tijani Gazali, did not object to Onoja’s submission, he rather gave support and asked the Court to shift the matter forward for a possible amicable settlement.
He said, “My Lords, I wish to humbly confirm the information. It is our position to settle the matter out of court”.
“Justice J. O. Oyewole, who presided over today’s sitting, directed both parties to file terms of settlement for adoption when eventually agreed upon.
“He also ordered them to document the terms of the settlement and file before the adjourned date for the court to adopt as its judgment in the matter.
“He fixed November 4 as the return date for the two parties.”
