FG: Justice Ngwuta’s prosecutor was sacked

The Federal Government said it sacked the special prosecutor in the trial of suspended Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta over ‘unprofessional conduct’.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday debunked the claim by Charles AdeogunPhilips, who was engaged from the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he left on his own volition in protest over the mishandling of the judicial cases under his supervision.

The AGF’s spokesman, Salihu Othman Isah said the National Prosecution Coordination Committee (NPCC) withdrew the fiat issued to the prosecutor over his non-disclosure of conflict of interest in the anti-graft war and other sundry issues.

Adigun-Philips had on February 9 withdrawn from the trial of Justice Ngwuta before an Abuja Federal High Court citing Federal Government’s withdrawal of the N2.2bn fraud charges against Supreme Court Chief Registrar Ahmed Saleh and two others.

Isah said Adigun-Philips failed to disclose that he was handling a brief in an ongoing suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) involving First Bank Executive Director, Public Sector Accounts, Dauda Lawal at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

He said Lawal was alleged to have “laundered $40m into Sterling Bank PLC on behalf of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke as part of $153, 310, 000. 00 she is alleged to have siphoned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

“Adeogun-Philips’ sack was conveyed to him vide a letter titled, ‘Withdrawal of your name as a member of Team 16 of the National Prosecution Team handling charges No. FHC/ABJ/ C/232/16-FRN vs Sylvester N. Ngwuta’ dated 6th February, 2016 and signed by Sylvester O. Imhanobe, Esq, Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Projects who also doubles as Secretary of the Committee,” Isah said.

“Adeogun-Philips had acknowledged receipt of the letter through an email message dated 8th February 2017 he sent to the Committee secretary and copied to Mr. Muhammed Umar Etsu, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF).”