The Federal Government yesterday filed separate charges of false declaration of assets against Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta of the Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court. The charges were filed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by a principal state counsel, Hajara Yusuf, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Justice Ngwuta is alleged to have refused to declare his assets as a public officer contrary to Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

He is also alleged to have engaged in private business as a public officer, contrary to Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Justice Ngwuta faces a ten-count charge committed between June 2, 2011 and July 19, 2016 while serving as Justice of the Supreme Court.

He is accused of failure to declare the following property:

* Three duplexes at Chinedu Ogah Avenue, Ntezi, Aba in Abakaliki.

* 22 plots of land at Chief Igwe Uga Avenue, Abakaliki.

* Six plots of land at Frank Okoroafor Avenue, Abakaliki.

* Peugeot Saloon; Wrangler Jeep, a Toyota Jeep; a BMW 5 Series Saloon and a Liberty Jeep.

* That between August 1, 2014 and July16, 2015, he corruptly received the sum of N36. 31million from one Mr. Ogudu Nwadire, through a personal bank account number 0018113021 domiciled at Union Bank PLC.

* Ngwuta was also alleged to be trading in rice, palm oil and other products while serving as a justice of the apex court.

The court papers said all the charges were offences that run contrary to Section 15(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 and punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.

The federal government listed the Head, Investigation Division of the CCB, Mr. Samuel Ozigbe Madojemu as the witness to state the outcome of the CCB investigation carried out on the defendant’s assets.

The defendant’s written statement, Assets Declaration Forms for the period 2011-2016 and proof of ownership of vehicles not stated in the Assets Declaration Form(s) were listed as exhibits to be tendered.

Justice Ademola charged on forex trading

Justice Adeniyi Ademola faces a two-count charge of non-declaration of assets and engaging in private business as a public officer.

He is accused of engaging in the purchase and sale of foreign exchange currencies.

The offences are said to be contrary to Sections 15 & 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP C15 punishable under Sections 23 (2) of the same Act.

No date has been fixed for their arraignments.