The case of corruption against Justice
Sylvester Ngwuta has progressed in the
court of law as evidence has been recorded
against him.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, admitted into evidence, a cash sum of N35million and various foreign
currencies that the Department of State Service, DSS, allegedly recovered from the official residence of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court.
The Federal Government tendered the recovered monies which it brought to court in nine in Ghana-must-go bags, through a DSS operative, John Otaze.
Otaze was a member of an investigative team that raided Justice Ngwuta’s home on
October 8, 2016, in what the DSS termed a ’sting operation’. He appeared before the trial court to testify as the fifth prosecution
witness, PW-5. Led in evidence by
government lawyer, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, the PW-5, tendered the monies which were in nine bags and boxes.
Specifically, aside the cash sum of
N35million, the foreign currencies the court admitted into evidence were £35, 0915 (Pound Sterling), $319,096 (United States Dollars), R50 (South Africa Rand), €280
Euros, 380 United Arab Emirates Dirhams and 420 Gambian Dalasis.
While Justice Tsoho admitted and marked the boxes as exhibits 11 A-I, the monies were admitted as exhibit-12.
Meantime, shortly after the monies were admitted into evidence, the prosecution
counsel, Mrs. Fatunde applied that they should be returned to the DSS for onward transfer to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN,
for safe keeping, pending conclusion of the trial.
The application was not opposed by Ngwuta’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN.
While granting the request, Justice Tsoho ordered that the monies should be recounted in the presence of counsel from
the prosecution, the defence and an officer of the high court.
The Judge directed that afterwards, it should be deposited to the CBN by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court in charge
of litigation. It will be recalled that the Ngwuta’s trial was stalled at the last adjourned date owing to failure by FG to produce some exhibits it wanted to tender
before the court.
On that day, Justice Ngwuta who is facing an amended 13-count criminal charges, told the court that he was ready and anxious to
defend himself, insisting that he was innocent. Ngwuta said the level he had attained in the judiciary made it imperative
for him to establish his innocence on the merit of his defence.
Aside money laundering charge, FG also alleged that Justice Ngwuta falsified his age,
as well as possessed multiple international passports. The embattled jurist was docked
before the high court on November 21, 2016, and subsequently granted bail to the
tune of N100million.
FG told the court that shortly after Ngwuta was granted administrative bail by the DSS,
he quickly called the PW-1, Mr. Linus Nwamba to help him conceal some of the evidence against him, including N27million
he hid in his bathroom at Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.
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