The Federal Government has filed a nine-count criminal charge of money laundering and corruption against Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, a serving justice of the Supreme Court.
DailyTrust reports that Justice Ngwuta who is currently on suspension, was charged to court following allegations of corruption leveled against him by the Department of State Security (DSS) after his home was ransacked by the security agency last month.
According to court documents filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Ngwuta is alleged to have retained in his possession the sum of N35.358 million contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).
It was alleged that he also retained in his possession the sum of $319,596.00 and £25,915 all of which according to the prosecutors formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act contrary to the Money Laundering Act.
It was alleged that he also retained in his possession the sum of $319,596.00 and £25,915 all of which according to the prosecutors formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act contrary to the Money Laundering Act.
It is also alleged that several sums of cash were recovered including N35.3 million, $319,596.00, £25,915 pounds sterling and €280.00. The search according to the prosecutors also revealed four diplomatic passports, one official and two standard Nigerian passports all in the name of the defendant.
The Federal government also accused Justice Ngwuta of obtaining multiple passports contrary to Section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section. He was alleged to have made false statement to the passport office concerning his date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional Diplomatic Passport for himself. He was also alleged to have in his possession two valid Diplomatic Passports and thereby committed an offence under Section 10 of the Immigration Act.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the case and no judge has been assigned to hear it yet.