FG arraigns Justice Ngwuta for false assets declaration

The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on an amended eight count charge for false declaration of assets.

‎Ngwuta, who sat on the duck quietly unruffled, pleaded not guilty to all the counts and was granted bail on self-recognition.

The defendant’s lawyer, the erstwhile Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), moved an oral bail application on his behalf.

He prayed the tribunal to grant Justice Ngwuta bail on self-recognizance.

The prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Umar Muhammed, did not oppose the application.

Accordingly, the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, granted the bail application as prayed.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dropped two charges from the initial 10-counts filed against him.

‎In the amended charge, the prosecution dropped the charge of non-declaration ‎of 22 plots of land at Chief Igwe Uga Avenue, Abakaliliki, by Justice Ngwuta.

‎According to the amended charge, Justice Ngwuta was specifically alleged to have ‎failed to declare a parcel of land and property to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) between June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016.

The Federal Government further alleged that Justice Ngwuta also engaged in the purchase and sale of rice, palm oil and other related products, while being a justice of the Supreme Court, contrary to code of conduct.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Umar Muhammed, said in addition to ‎the plots of lands and acts of buying and selling, Justice Ngwuta also owns five cars which he allegedly kept away from the CCB.

The alleged offences according to prosecution are contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal ‎Act, Cap C15 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) of the same Act.

It was alleged that Justice Ngwuta between June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016, while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of the tribunal, did make a false declaration of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) when he failed to declare a parcel of land measuring 1,722.925 square meters situate at Umkputu off Onwe Road, Azuiyiakwu in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Both counts two and three of the amended charge accused the defendant of failure to declare plot 36, Onwe Road layout, Abakaliliki, Abakaliliki Local Government Area, Ebonyi State and plot 35, GRA extension (Onwe Road layout), Abakaliliki, Ebonyi State between June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016.

Justice Ngwuta was equally charged for not declaring to the CCB the following vehicles – a Wrangler Jeep with vehicle No: VRG 55535620346898 and Chassis No: IJ4GA591581626734, registration No: RSH 526AJ; BMW 5 Series Saloon with vehicle No: 7779067484832 and Chassis No: WBSWL91060P323876, Registration No: KUJ510FU; Hummer Jeep with vehicle No: 77746900444362 and Chassis No: 5GRGN2389H101515, registration no: KWL881JE and a Liberty Jeep with vehicle No: VRG7774681742807 and Chassis No: IJ8GP28KX9W550546, registration no: RBC570DP.

The prosecution said the offences are contrary to section 15(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) of the same Act.

In count eight, Justice Ngwuta is accused of engaging and participating in private business contrary to section 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) of the same Act.

Ngwuta is currently undergoing separate trial for money laundering and passport fraud charges preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

While Justice Ngwuta’s trial was going on before a Federal High Court, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had on February 8, 2017 preferred separate sets of charges bordering on breaches of code of conduct for public officers and asset declaration breaches against him and another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

No date has been fixed for Justice Ademola arraignment on the two counts preferred against him. The tribunal on Thursday fixed July 12, 2017 for the trial of Justice Ngwuta.