Non-availability of Exhibit Stalls Trial of Justice Ngwuta
The ongoing trial of a Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, over allegations of corruption at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was yesterday stalled, due to the inability of the prosecution to bring to court exhibit it seek to tender against the defendant.
Justice Ngwuta is standing trial on a 13-count amended charges bordering on corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.
He was initially arraigned by the federal government on a 16-count charge, before the charges were amended to 12 and subsequently 13.
At the last sitting, the prosecution presented two witnesses before the case was adjourned to yesterday for continuation of trial.
But at the resumed trial, prosecuting counsel, Olufunmilayo Fatunde, told the court that exhibit to be presented by the witness was not in court.
She pleaded for adjournment to enable them do so at the next sitting.
Reacting, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to the defendant, did not oppose the request for adjournment.
He nevertheless observed that: “My Lord, we are more anxious than the prosecution to go on with the case. The defendant is willing to defend himself and prove his innocence on merit. Any time the exhibit is in court, we are ready. But t if you want to strike out the case I leave that to your discretion”
Justice John Tsoho however, adjourned to May 25 and 26 for continuation of trial.
It will be recalled that Justice Ngwuta was among seven Supreme Court judges that were arrested between October 7 and 8, 2016 after the Department for State Services (DSS) raided their homes in what was termed “a sting operation”
In the charges against Justice Ngwuta, the federal government has accused him of giving false information to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) concerning his diplomatic passport with the purpose of procuring another one.
He was also accused of giving various cash sums of money above the statutory threshold to his building contractor for the building of various houses in his home-state, Ebonyi State, without going through a financial institution.