The Court of Appeal in Abuja has approved a request by the Federal Government and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Samuel Nkanu Walter Onnoghen, to settle their legal case out of court. The case involves the 2019 removal of Onnoghen from his role as CJN.

The approval follows ongoing discussions between both parties aimed at peacefully resolving the issue. During Thursday’s court session, Justice Onnoghen’s lawyer, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, informed the three-judge panel that the discussions were progressing well, with meetings held up until September 18. He expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached and requested a one-month adjournment to finalize the settlement.

The federal government’s lawyer, Tijani Gazali, confirmed this information and supported the proposal for an out-of-court settlement.

Justice J.O. Oyewole, who presided over the session, instructed that once the settlement is finalized, it must be documented and filed with the court. This documentation will then be adopted as the court’s official ruling on the case.

The court has set November 4 as the next hearing date, allowing both sides time to reach a final settlement.

In 2019, Onnoghen was removed from his position following his conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for failing to declare some of his assets. His assets were subsequently forfeited to the federal government. Onnoghen is now appealing the CCT’s judgment, hoping to overturn the decision that led to his removal and the seizure of his five bank accounts.