Justice Walter Onnoghen. |
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday raided the farm of the
suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, making away with
sales books, receipt booklets, its members of staff list and other documents.
It
was learnt that about nine EFCC operatives, a cameraman and policemen in a
Nissan bus marked Abuja BWR 627AT raided Wanogan Farms Limied located in the
Masaka area of Nasarawa State around 3pm and searched the entire premises for
over three hours.
A
relative of the CJN told our correspondent that the EFCC operatives seized all
the phones of the workers to prevent them from taking photographs of the
operation.
He
said they searched the store houses, water tanks in search of dollars.
The
relative said, “We were at the farm on Saturday afternoon when operatives of
the EFCC arrived in a white Nissan bus marked Abuja BWR627AT. They forced their
way into the premises, harassing everyone.
“No
document was presented to the manager under the claims that the EFCC doesn’t
need a search warrant. They searched his office and made away with a list of
staff members from around February last year.
“The
manager was then made to write and sign a document that nowhere was broken
into, and nothing was taken. The supervisor was made to countersign. Both were
made to do this under duress.
“The
cashier was then harassed and made to turn over the sales record and all
receipts and invoices in his keeping. He was also made to write an undertaking
releasing the sales book to them under duress and made to write his name and
designation.”
He
said the EFCC men harassed the human resources director over the phone and
requested that the company’s invoices be turned over to the EFCC.
The
suspended CJN had written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police,
alleging that some men posing as herdsmen invaded his farm on February 1, 2019,
asking residents if they had witnessed any suspicious activities.
It
was learnt that after the petition, security officials who had been carrying
out surveillance on the property, decided to formally search the farm.
The
relative added, “These people alleged that Onnoghen had 55 houses but when they
realised that he had only one house; they decided to start looking for
evidence.
“They
claimed he had foreign accounts but when it was time to provide evidence to the
NJC, they realised that it was only domiciliary accounts he had which is not
the same as foreign accounts. Now, they are looking for evidence when the
matter is already in court.”
When
contacted on the telephone, the EFCC spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade, said he was
not aware of the raid on Onnoghen’s farm.
“Sincerely,
I am not aware,” Orilade said.
The
EFCC, it was learnt, decided to raid Onnoghen’s farm with a view to
investigating claims by the embattled CJN that most of the monies that passed
through his accounts were from his farm business.
The
Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit had sent a report to the EFCC revealing
the identities of firms that paid $3m into the bank accounts of Onnoghen.
According
to the document, Onnoghen received such huge sums of money despite the fact
that his salary and allowances were between N240, 202 and N751, 082.37
from 2005 to 2018.
Punch.
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