FG reduces Justice Ngwuta charges to 11

By Vivian Okejeme
Abuja

The federal government, yesterday, re- arraigned Justice Sylvester Ngwuta on 11- count charge before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, from the initial 16-count charge.
The new prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, however, gave no reason for the reduction in the number of the charges.

She went ahead to recall Linus Chukwuebuka who had testified before.
While led in evidence in chief by prosecution counsel Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, the witness told the court how he helped the judge to move millions of naira and other properties from the residence of the judge in Abakaliki, following the arrest of Ngwuta last October by the Department of State Services.

“The total sum he received from the defendant is in the amount of N313 million. I received the money between the 4th of January 2016 and September 2016,” he said.
Also testifying at resumed trial yesterday, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, said he knew Justice Ngwuta in 2007 who was appointed to the Bench of the court in 2011.

The witness said Justice Ngwuta total remuneration for the five times he travelled abroad between 2011 and 2016 was 5, 0000 pounds Sterling at 10,000 pounds Sterling per trip.
Under cross-examination by Kanu Agabi, Saleh said he did not receive any report that the defendant was engaged in any other business.
He also he did not  know any rule which prohibit Justices from owning property and that since he knew him, Ngwuta had not been under suspension.
The matter continues today.

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