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FG’s lawyer washes hands off Justice Ngwuta’s trial

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FG accuses Ngwuta of trading in rice, palm oil

Adeogun-Philips, lead counsel to the Federal government in the ongoing trial of the Supreme Court justice, Sylvester Ngwuta, on Thursday withdrew from the case.

The Nigerian government had hired Adeogun-Philips from International Criminal Court (ICC), to prosecute the case following his years of experience in criminal matters.

He, however, suddenly withdrew from the case without disclosing the reason behind his action.

Soon after the case resumed on Thursday, the lawyer, picked up the microphone announcing to the court that he was withdrawing from the case forthwith.

Commenting on the lawyer’s decision, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, praised Adeogun-Philips for the courtesy he showed by physically coming before the court to announce his withdrawal.

Another lawyer from the prosecution team, Hajara Yusuf, immediately announced herself as replacement for the ICC lawyer, disclosing she was now going to lead the prosecution.

She further told the court that the prosecution team was ready for the day’s business which was to cross-examine the first prosecution witness.

Her prayer was obliged by the court and the prosecution witness (PW1), Linus Chukwuebuka was cross-examined by the lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN).

Read also: FG in fight to finish, files fresh charges against Justices Ngwuta, Ademola at CCT

Chukwuebuka, had in his testimony on January 18, 2017 told the court how Ngwuta paid him the sum of N313million in cash to build housing projects for the defendant in various parts of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.

The witness, a civil engineer with Base 4 Services Limited, a building and civil engineering construction company, had then said, “The total sum I received from the defendant is N313million. I received the money between January 4, 2016, and September 2016.”

During cross examination on Thursday, the witness informed the court that he believed the job he was contracted to do by the defendant was legitimate, adding that he would not have accepted the job had he known the money was from proceeds of crime.

The matter was adjourned till February 13.

 

 

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