Why I withdrew from prosecuting Supreme Court Justice Ngwuta -Lawyer

The legal battle against corruption suffered another setback on Thursday as an astute private prosecutor, Charles Adeogun Philip handling the prosecution of a Justice of Supreme Court (JSC), Justice Sylvester Ngwuta , over alleged involvement in corruption withdrew from the case.

Adeogun-Philip, who was engaged by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), announced his withdrawal yesterday at the resumed hearing of the criminal case filed against Justice Ngwuta before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Though Adeogun-Philip did not give reason for withdrawing from the case in the open court, he told The Daily Times at the court premises that he was dissatisfied with Tuesday’s withdrawal of a 9-count charge filed against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, M. Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others by same AGF.

The lawyer said having helped in the preparation of both charges, he saw the withdrawal of N2.2b fraud charge as a clear sign that “the administration is not ready to prosecute corrupt persons in the country, and I will not be a party to one-sided fight.”

Immediately after AdeogunPhilip announced his withdrawal on Thursday, a lawyer from the office of the AGF, Hajara Yusuf, announced appearance and confirmed that the private lawyer “will no longer be appearing in this matter.”

Meanwhile, under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the 1st prosecution witness, Linus Chukwuebuka, said he is a honest and competent contractor.

He said that his honesty and competence was the reason Justice Ngwuta employed him, saying that he would not have agreed to do anything if he knew they were illegal.

He said he would not have accepted those payments totaling about N313m if he believed they were proceeds of crimes. He said that Justice Ngwuta explained to him the sources of his money and he found them reasonable.

Chukwuebuka also told the court that he did not make any complaint against Justice Ngwuta, neither did he report the defendant to any of the law enforcement agencies.

He admitted he moved Justice Ngwuta cars from his premises but noted that nobody has laid claim that the cars belong to them. “I also moved money out of the premises and nobody has laid
claim to those money.”

Chukwuebuka said that he did not consider his arrest and detention for seven days justified because he didn’t know who complained against him as he has never come under suspension in connection with his work.

The witness also told the court he made two statements in ‘defense of myself while in detention’ and that the work he undertook for the defendant was in the open. “Defendant was not hiding his wealth and I documented the work, nothing illegal about the work,” he stated.

Chukwuebuka further told the court that the man, who introduced Justice Ngwuta to him is a good man and he, the witness, has no reason to regret that contact. The matter has been adjourned to February 13 to enable AGF reconstitute another prosecution team.