FG slams 9-count charge on Justice Ngwuta

FG slams 9-count charge on Justice Ngwu

THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, filed a nine-count criminal charge of money laundering and corruption against Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, a serving justice of the Supreme court of Nigeria, who is currently under investigation of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following allegations of corruption against Justice Ngwuta, the DSS commenced investigation into his activities, which culminated in the execution of a search warrant in his official residence on October 8.

Ngwuta, according to the information filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), was alleged to have retained in his possession the sum of N35,358,000, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).

It was alleged that the defendant also retained in his possession the sum of $319,596 and £25,915, all of which, according to the prosecutors, formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act contrary to the Money Laundering Act.

The search on the residence, according to the prosecutors, also revealed four diplomatic passports, one official and two standard Nigerian passports, all in the name of the defendant.

The accused justice of the Supreme Court was alleged to have obtained multiple passports, contrary to Section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section.

He was alleged to have 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.

The case is yet to be assigned to any judge as of the time of filing in this report.

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