News
Assets declaration: Onnoghen opens defence with driver as 1st witness


• Tribunal summons CCB’s director
BY: Oliseama Okwuchukwu
The suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen opened his defence yesterday by calling his driver, Lawal Busari, as his first defence witness.
Justice Onnoghen is being tried on a six count charge in which he is accused of breaching the code of conduct for public officers for allegedly failing to declare his assets.
Led in evidence by lead defence lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Busari gave details of how he drove his boss, the defendant, to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Office on July 28, 2010, to obtain the assets declaration form and how he paid N200 for the defendants’ assets declaration on November 3, 2010.
Busari, who said he is 60 years old, described himself as the Chief Driver/Mechanic at the Supreme Court.
When Awomolo moved to tender the receipt issued Busari for the N200, lead prosecution lawyer, Aliyu Umar (SAN), objected to it, being admitted by the tribunal.
Umar doubted the authenticity of the receipt on the grounds that the “revenue number did not appear on it.”
He added that since the witnesses was not the maker of the document, he was not the proper person to tender it.
Tribunal Chairman Danladi Umar overruled Umar’s objection by admitting the document in evidence, promising that his court would determine the weight to be attached to it.
The defence said by the witness’ testimony, it sought to puncture the prosecution’s charge that the defendant did not declare his assets from 2005 and 2016.
Busari added that while with Onnoghen at the CCB office on July 28, 2010, the suspended CJN also asked him to obtain his own assets declaration form, which he did.
The witness said he submitted his completed form and that of his boss at the CCB office in Asokoro, Abuja on November 4, 2010.
Busari added: “I don’t know the name of the person who collected the forms from me, but I know she was a woman, who was light in complexion.
“She received my form and that of my lordship. I was not given any acknowledgment copy that day. I was asked to come for it when it is ready.”
Busari said he later went back and received the acknowledgment slip for his own submitted form.
Awomolo sought to tender the acknowledgment slip issued to the witness by the CCB, a move the prosecution lawyer objected on the grounds that the document was not relevant to the proceedings.
The tribunal Chairman agreed to Umar’s objection and rejected the document.
While being cross-examined by the prosecution lawyer, Busari admitted being the defendant’s driver since 1999 while he was still a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Buhari said he drove him to obtain his asset declaration form in 2010, but that he did not go with the defendant to the CCB office when he obtained the form for the assets declaration which the judge did after his appointed to the Supreme Court bench.
About his educational qualification, Busari said he obtained his West African Examination Council’s certificate in 2004.
At a point, the lead prosecution lawyer asked Busari if he was reading from a piece of paper.
The witness admitted the he has a piece of paper in his hand, following which the tribunal chairman directed that the paper be retrieved from the witness for the tribunal’s examination.
An official of the tribunal took the paper from the witness and handed it to the tribunal chairman. After he read through the paper, the prosecution lawyer applied that it be returned to the witness.
When asked who wrote what was contained in the paper, the witness said: “My Lord, I wrote it myself. It is my hand writing and it contained facts about me”.
The defence did not object to the application by the prosecution to tender the paper in evidence, following which the tribunal admitted it in evidence and marked it as Exhibit 7.
Busari told the tribunal that he also has Trade Test Certificates, Grade 1, 2, and 3. He described the defendant as a good man, saying he was attached to the defendant as a driver when he was still a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
The witness added: “He has done so many things I can’t forget. When we went to Jos for tribunal, I wanted to go to the mosque and I told him, he asked me to take his official car, I was shocked.
“Some of the policemen standing by him said your driver? He said yes, let him go, he is going to pray for me and everybody. I took the car and went to mosque and came back.
“The second thing, anytime I am praying and he needs me. If he is informed that I am praying, he will say please don’t disturb him”.
Earlier, upon an application by Awomolo, the tribunal summoned a director at the CCB, Mrs. Theresa Nwafor in relation to the ongoing trial
The CCT chairman issued a subpoena on Mrs. Nwafor to appear before the tribunal tomorrow by 10am.
The tribunal had, on March 29, 2019 rejected Onnoghen’s no-case submission and adjourned till yesterday for him to open his defence.
At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Awomolo informed the tribunal that the defence intends to call between two and three witnesses.
He said one of the proposed witnesses is Mrs. Nwafor. He proceeded that an order be made for the issuance and service of a subpoena on Mrs. Nwafor, summoning her to appear before the tribunal to testify in the case of the defence.
The lead prosecution lawyer did not object to Awomolo’s application, following which the tribunal chairman granted it and ordered that Mrs. Nwafor appear before the tribunal at its sitting tomorrow.
Source: The Nation


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
News
Family Marks one-year Memorial of Late APC Chieftain, Ojougboh with Charity Outreach
By Ikenna Oluka


The family of the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, led by his wife, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, marked his one-year memorial anniversary with a series of charitable initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy of philanthropy and service to society.
The memorial activities included the donation of school books and bags to pupils of Erigbe Primary School, in Agbor within the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education.
The outreach also included extension of financial assistance to patients at Central Hospital, Agbor, and the provision of toiletries, cash, and food items to children at the Salve Regina Children’s Home, Agbor.
The outreach was carried out under the ‘Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation’, a family-led initiative established to immortalise him and continue his lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, Mrs. Ojougboh reaffirmed the family’s dedication to sustaining the ideals of the late APC chieftain, describing him as a man who strongly believed in education and giving back to society.
“We are here to celebrate the life of my husband, Late Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on a year ago. In his honour, we decided to give back to society. He was a man who valued education and was always willing to help others. It is only fitting that we continue his legacy through acts of generosity,” she stated.
Honouring his passion for education
The first visit was to Erigbe Primary School, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education. The Foundation distributed school bags, writing materials, and food packs to the pupils. The family encouraged the pupils to take their education seriously and strive to become responsible citizens.
Supporting patients at Central Hospital, Agbor
At Central Hospital, Agbor, Mrs. Ojougboh and her entourage moved through the medical wards, offering financial support to patients to assist with their treatment costs. The hospital staff and beneficiaries responded with prayers and words of gratitude for the kind gesture.
Reaching out to orphaned children
The outreach team also visited Salve Regina Children’s Home in Agbor where they donated cash, food items, and toiletries to the children.


The Matron of the home expressed her deep appreciation to the Ojougboh family, commending their commitment to sustaining the late politician’s legacy of compassion and social impact.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh’s enduring legacy
Reflecting on her late husband’s contributions to society, Mrs. Ojougboh emphasised that his legacy of generosity and service to humanity would not be forgotten.
“Dr. Cairo was a selfless man who touched many lives. His contributions to the Nigerian political landscape, his mark in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State, and the country at large, will always be remembered. He may be gone, but his impact will continue to be felt for generations,” she said.
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has pledged to continue supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives in his memory, ensuring that his vision for a better society lives on.
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