Judge charged with N81.7m unlawful enrichment, seeks court’s leave to travel abroad for training

One month after a Federal High Court Judge, Bayelsa Division, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, was arraigned over alleged unlawful financial enrichment before the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, the embattled judge has filed an application seeking the leave of court to travel abroad for training.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on June 23, arraigned Nganjiwa on a 14-count charge bordering on unlawful financial enrichment to the tune of $260,000 and N8.7 million.

He had pleaded not guilty to all the 14 counts preferred against him by the commission.

When the motion filed before the vacation Judge, Justice K .O Dawudu came up for hearing yesterday, the matter could not go on as the counsel to the defendant I. B Mohammed, informed the court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, refused service.

Mohammed told the court that the Court Sheriff went to the office of the anti- graft agency on July 19, as ordered by the court to serve them with the hearing notice, but the officer at the legal department of EFCC, refused service and said except he is given an instruction by the prosecutor handling the case, he cannot accept service.

He said: “from what the Sheriff of the court Ahmed Olakunle, told me, he said the officer he met at the legal department had a phone conversation with the prosecutor and after which, he told him that he cannot accept the service except he is instructed by the prosecutor.”

According to the counsel the court in its ruling on June 23, when the defendant was arraigned before Justice Adedayo Akintoye, he was to deposit his passport with the court registrar, and where the passport is with the EFCC, the anti- graft agency should deposit it to the court registrar within seven days, that was the ruling of the court and because he was a serving officer he was released on bail on self recognisance.

“The Sheriff went with our earlier original proof of service dated July 12 on them” Mohammed stated.

Justice Dauwdu however ‎said “I will give them the opportunity to come, for the hearing of the motion dated 12 July, “I hereby order that hearing notice be served on the respondent.”

Meanwhile, the judge has adjourned the matter for hearing.