The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, met behind closed-doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents later, the CJN said the anti-graft war was not losing steam despite major corruption cases recently lost by the Federal Government.

Onnoghen, however, parried a question on the alleged “gang-up” by the judiciary against Buhari’s administration, saying
the system was designed in such a way that anyone who loses at a lower court can appeal the ruling.

The Federal Government had, in the last one week, lost four major corruption cases. The first was lost by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday when Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos lifted the temporary forfeiture of N75m in the account of Mike Ozekhome who is a lawyer of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

The following day, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission lost the case involving a former Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubere who was discharged and acquitted by an Abuja High Court over alleged complicity in N1.97bn contract fraud.

On Wednesday, an Abuja High Court discharged and acquitted Justice Adeniyi Ademola; his wife, Olabowale and Joe Agi. Justice Ademola, alongside other judged, were last year arrested by the DSS for for alleged corruption and possession of firearms.

The EFCC, on Thursday, lost another case involving former First Lady Patience Jonathan as Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos defroze her $5.8m Skye Bank account.

Dailytrustng