Justice Ngwuta to Face Tribunal

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court is to be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on April 20, an official said yesterday.

The tribunal’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ibraheem Alhassan, said in a statement in Abuja that Ngwuta would appear before a two-man panel over alleged false asset declaration.

Alhassan said summons had already been served the judicial officer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the federal government had preferred a 10-count charge against Ngwuta before the tribunal.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said Ngwuta contravened Section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

According to Malami, false declaration of assets is punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Act.

Ngwuta is one of the judges from whose residences, the Department of State Service (DSS) claimed it uncovered huge sums of money in various denominations.

The DSS raided the judges’ residences in October, 2016.

Ngwuta is currently standing trial before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The federal government which preferred that charge, said that Ngwuta contravened Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 (as amended).

It added that the offences are punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Act.