Justice Umezuluike (rtd) who was arraigned on Friday before the Enugu High Court presided over by Justice Anthony Onovo over a ten million naira donation allegedly made during his book launch while in office in 2014, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Ex-Chief Judge was accused of using his position to confer unfair advantage upon himself by “inviting one Prince Arthur Eze, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oranto Petroleum Ltd who was a litigant in a pending and concluded civil matter to wit: suit No. E33/2010, Prince Arthur Eze versus Diamond Bank plc and E/147/2012, Prince Arthur Eze versus Major Concepts Ltd respectively,” which he was presiding over to his book launch.
According to the charge sheet No EHC 174C/2017, the said Prince Arthur Eze allegedly made donation of “ten million naira by a Fidelity Bank Plc cheque drawn in the account of Oranto Petroleum ltd” to the book titled “ABC of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria.”
The former Chief Judge allegedly accepted and paid the money into his Zenith bank account number 1001189952. The offence was said to have been committed sometime in February 2014.
Counsel to ex-Chief Judge, Professor Agu Gab. Agu applied for his bail and was granted in the sum of one million naira and on self recognisance as a former jurist, holding that a Federal High Court in Portharcourt had also granted him bail on self recognisance in a matter he is involved in.
While adjourning the matter to October 2nd and 3rd and November 26 and 27 for definite hearing, the Judge warned against slanting of reports of the proceedings as well as trial in the mass media.
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