Jolted by NJC’s action FG files charges against two recalled judges

The Federal Government seems to have been jolted to action by the recall of some judges it alleged were guilty of corrupt practices by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Eight months after they were accused of engaging in corrupt practices, the Federal government failed to further any action against the judges, but has taken action less than a week after their recall by the NJC.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday slammed two of them with criminal charges before a Lagos State High Court.

The two judges are Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Justice Mohammed Yunusa.

In the charges preferred against them, the EFCC accused them of perverting justice, breach of public trust and money laundering, among others.

Their count charges varies with Yunusa having four while Nganjiwa is to face 14 count charges levelled against him.

The EFCC further said that it has already gathered 33 witnesses to testify in the prosecution of the two judges.

In one of Justice Yunusa’s charges he was said to have “Attempted to pervert the course of justice contrary to section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No.11, 2011.”

Details of the charges alleged that he had between February and September, 2015 within the jurisdiction of the court being a public official to wit:, attempted to pervert the course of justice by engaging in constant private and confidential telephone communications with Rickey Tarfa, SAN, counsel to the applicants in:(i) Suit No. FHC/L/CS/714/2015 between Mr. Adewale Adeniyi v EFCC & 2 Others, (ii) Suit No. FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rena Prestige Industries Ltd & Anor. v EFCC & 2 Others,(iii)Suit No. FHC/L/CS/716/2015 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria Ltd & 3 Others v EFCC & 2 Others during the period you presided over the said suits as a Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.

Count 2 reads, “Corruption by public official contrary to section 63(l}{b)(ii) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No.11, 2011.”

Justice Nganjiwa has some of his charges read thus, “That you, Justice Nganjiwa between January 18 and December 16, 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the court, being a Judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with an aggregate sum of $ 144,000 through your account No. 328/446178/2/1/0 domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.

“That you, Justice Nganjiwa on or about March 27, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the court, being a Judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $ 10,000 through your account No. 328/446178/2/1/0 domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank Pic so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.

Read also : CCT: FG insists Saraki has serious case to answer

The NJC had following calls by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and many other Nigerians, recalled five of the judges who the Federal Government was unable to charge to court eight months after their suspension on alleged corrupt practices.

NJC also recalled Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who’s the Federal Government has appealed after the judgement of a Federal High Court that discharged and acquitted him.

The judges where among the eight the Department of State Security (DSS) raided their homes between October 7 and 8, 2016.

Two of them, Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia are still undergoing trial.

 

 

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