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| Sylvesta Ngwuta (JSC) |
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday brought a nine-count charge of Money Laundering and corruption against a Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.
Ngwuta, his colleague, Justice Inyang Okoro and five other federal justices had been suspended on allegation of fraud.
The Department of State Services (DSS) between Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 raided the homes of the judges where large sums of money were allegedly discovered.
The charge filed in Federal High Court, Abuja, alleged that Ngwuta illegally retained in his possession N35.35million contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
It was also alleged that the defendant retained in his possession $319,596 and 25, 915 pounds.
According to the charge, the prosecution alleges that the monies formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act contrary to the Money Laundering Act.
The charged alleged that several sums of cash were recovered from the defendant’s home, including N35.3 million, $319,596.00(USD) 25,915 pounds sterling and 280.00 r. 44.
It further alleged that four diplomatic passports, one official and two standard Nigerian passports all in the name of the defendant were found during DSS search.
The charge said the defendant allegedly obtained multiple passports contrary to Section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section.
According to the charge the embattled judge allegedly made false statement to the Passport Office concerning his date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional Diplomatic Passport for himself.
He was also alleged to have in his possession two valid Diplomatic Passports and thereby committed an offence under Section 10 of the Immigration Act.
NAN reports that the case file has yet to be assigned for trial.
Report by NAN
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