Politics
Ex-Enugu CJ in more trouble over N10m gift
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has leveled a fresh corruption charge against the erstwhile Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike.
The anti-graft agency is accusing him of receiving N10million donation from a litigant before his court and that he conferred undue advantage on himself.
EFCC had earlier on March 16, arraigned Umezulike before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over non-disclosure of assets.
But the fresh charge filed against Umezulike by Kayode Oni, A.I. Arogha and Esin-Oti Ebipade, indicates that “The court is informed by EFCC, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Innocent Azubike Umezulike is charged with the following offence:
“Use of office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage contrary to Section 19 of the Independent and Corrupt Practices and other Related Offence Act( Laws of the Federation) 2000.
Read also: EFCC arraigns ex-CJ Umezulike for false declaration of asset
“Innocent Azubike Umezulike sometime in February 2014 at Enugu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being the Chief Judge, High Court of Justice, Enugu (a public officer) did use your position to confer unfair advantage upon yourself by inviting one Prince Arthur Eze, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oranto Petroleum Limited, who was a litigant in pending and concluded civil matters to wit: suit No. E/388/2010: Prince Arthur Eze v Diamond Bank Plc and E/147/2012: Prince Arthur Eze v Major Concepts Limited respectively presided over by you to the launch of a book titled
“’ABC of contemporary land law in Nigeria’, authored by you, where the said Arthur Eze donated N10million only by a Fidelity Bank Plc cheque drawn in the account of Oranto Petroleum Limited which you accepted and paid the said sum of N10million only into your Zenith Bank Plc account number 1001189952 and thereby committed an offence.”
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Enugu had placed an interim forfeiture order on a sum of N50 million belonging to Justice Umezulike in a Zenith Bank account.
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yanju omotodun
April 2, 2017 at 12:00 pm
I thought the fight against judiciary is over but I never knew it’s still on. Well anyone find wanting of corruption should pay for it.
Anita Kingsley
April 2, 2017 at 12:10 pm
EFCC can be funny at times, the money that landed unezukike in trouble was a contribution to his book! there was a project it was used for not bribe to get favoured in case. I don’t think EFCC has done anything concrete lately
Agbor Chris
April 2, 2017 at 12:14 pm
As a Chief Justice , he ought to understand the money was beyond donation. This is why Buhari waged war against the judiciary recently , they are too cprru
Animashaun Ayodeji
April 2, 2017 at 12:25 pm
EFCC cannot be taken seriously any more, despite all the money they’ve uncovered, no one has been prosecuted for fraud. This N10m is another noise that will die down afte a while
seyi jelili
April 2, 2017 at 3:19 pm
This is injustice and sincerely efcc shout be called to order for this molestation. A gift is different from a bribe. What ever means the judge used to acquire the money as long it was not fraud or bribery is none of their business . Cases they ought to face squarely, they won’t face it except intimidating people that are not that powerful.
JOHNSON PETER
April 2, 2017 at 9:51 pm
Gift blinds the heart. Taking gift in the judiciary is equal to diverting justice. Judges are small gods and should be unapproachable to men to buy them with money.