SAN FRANCISCO, February 09, (THEWILL) – Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court and his Federal High Court counterpart, Adeniyi Ademola, have been charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for allegedly contravening the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Act.
The Special Adviser to the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, on Media and Publicity, Salihu Isha, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
He explained that the principal state counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Hajara Yusuf, filed the charges on behalf of the AGF, pursuant to section 24 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
The government, in its request to arraign Ngwuta, alleged that “he engaged in private business as a public officer, contrary to section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act”.
The judge is 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.
Ngwuta is expected to face a 10-count charge, Isah said.
Part of the charges against him were that “between 2nd June 2011 and 19th uly 2016 while serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Tribunal, did make a false declaration of assets to the CCB when he failed to declare three duplexes at Chinedu Ogah Avenue, Ntezi, Aba in Abakaliki, while being a justice of the supreme court”.
He is also alleged in the second count to have between the 2nd June 2011 and 19th July 2016, while serving as a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria made a false declaration to the CCB when he failed to declare 22 plots of land at Chief Igwe Uga Avenue, Abakaliki, while the third count states that he failed to declare six plots of land at Frank Okoroafor Avenue, Abakaliki.
Ademola, on his part, has a two-count allegation filed against him and for which an affidavit was also deposed to by Samuel Madojemu of the CCB.
Count one of the charge against Ademola is that, he failed to declare his assets to the CCB and thereby breached section 15 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 and punishable under section 23(2) of the same Act, while the second count is that he engages and participate in private business contrary to section 6 of the CCB and Tribunal Act and punishable under Section 23(2) of same Act.
