FG ARRAIGNS SUPREME COURT JUDGE, NGWUTA BEFORE THE CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta

The Federal Government will, on April 20 , arraign a Justice of the Supreme Court , Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, on charges of asset declaration breaches
before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja .

The Head, Press and Public Relation , Code of Conduct Tribunal , Mr . Ibraheem Al - Hassan , said in a statement on Wednesday , that the two - man panel of the tribunal , led by Danladi Umar, had approved the date for the arraignment of the apex court judge .

“ Service of the summons has been effected to Justice Ngwuta yesterday ( Tuesday ) , ” the CCT spokesperson added .

Ngwuta is currently undergoing separate trial for money laundering and passport fraud charges preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation before a Federal High Court in Abuja .

While Justice Ngwuta’ s trial was going on at a Federal High Court , the Office of the AGF on February 8 , 2017 , preferred separate set of charges bordering on breaches of code of conduct for public officers and asset declaration against him and another judge of the Federal High Court , Justice Adeniyi Ademola .

While the CCT has fixed April 20 for the arraignment of Jutice Ngwuta, no date has been fixed for Justice Ademola, who was last week exonerated by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja , of giving and receiving gratification , among other charges preferred against him ; his wife, Olubowale ; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria , Mr . Joe Agi .
Ngwuta was charged with 10 counts before the CCT.

Part of the charges was that the Justice of the apex court engaged in private business as a public officer contrary to Section 6 ( b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“ Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, between June 2 , 2011 and July 19 , 2016 , in Abuja , while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this honourable Tribunal , did engage in purchase and sale of rice, palm oil and other related products , and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23 ( 2 ) of the same Act , ” one of the counts read .

The Justice of the apex court was also alleged to have refused to declare his assets as a public officer contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act , Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23 (2 ) of the same Act.
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