JUSTICE SYLVESTER NGWUTA SET TO BE ARRAIGNED COME NOVEMBER 21ST 2016
 |
| Justice Sylvester Ngwuta |
Recall that the Department of State Security (DSS) raided the learned Justice’s house on October 8, 2016 few hours before dawn. However, he was not the only Justice whose house was raided by the DSS very early in the morning just about the time when sleep is most pleasant, a time many consider “ungodly.” While learned members of the Nigerian bar as well as “unlearned” members of the Nigerian society remain divided as to whether or not the DSS acted within its competence; the justices who have since been branded as corrupt have had their fair share of the cell experience.
Only
yesterday, routenaija learnt through a credible source that Justice Sylvester
Ngwuta will be arraigned by the FG on November 21, 2016 at the Federal High
Court in Abuja before his learned brother, Justice John Tsoho, on charges of
money laundering as well as violation of the provisions of the Immigration Act.
The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) confirmed receipt of the
Court’s hearing notice. Meanwhile, the fates of the other justices remain
uncertain.
It
will appear that certain amendments have been made to the charge raising the
number of counts from the initial 10 to 14. The amended charge, which the
learned Justice Ngwuta will plead to come November 21st, 2016,
contains fresh allegations of money laundering involving N505m. The sum is
alleged to be part of the proceeds of Ngwuta’s unlawful undertakings which he
transferred in denominations of naira and US dollars to a building contractor
between January and May 2016. It will seem that the building contractor in the
person of Nwamba Chukwuebuka who received amounts totaling to N505m through a
series of transactions with the defendant has been included in the
prosecution’s list of witness along with one Aminu N. Ibrahim, Ngo Awoikiega,
Mr. Tanko Nuhu Kutana, and Ogudu Nwadire.
 |
| Justice Sylvester Ngwuta |
In
the latter, he has been accused of being in possession of two valid diplomatic
passports and another two valid Nigerian passports which were discovered during
the raid on his house. In addition, he is alleged to have submitted multiple
applications, made false information of loss of the passports and of his age
with intention to obtain multiple passports; all of which according to the
office of the Attorney General, are contrary to the provisions of the
Immigration Act, 2015.
All
those who have condemned the FG’s attitude towards the detained Justices have
done so on the premise that the legal profession is being slighted. Whereas,
all those who have supported the raid, arrest and subsequent detention of the
Justices have all supported their position with their varying degrees of
understanding of the Rule of Law. Some just think, owing to the nature of
allegations cooked so far, that it is a calculated attempt by the Government of
the day to persecute members of the Nigerian bench who did not dance to the
rhythm of their drums. What is your take? Is Justice Ngwuta in serious trouble?
Comments