Alleged Corruption: Justices Okoro, Ademola, Ngwuta risk 58 yrs in jail



By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Henry Umoru & Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA— Three weeks after the night raid on their homes by security agencies, the Federal Government will, today, formally file corruption charges against three senior court judges out of the seven, who were arrested and quizzed, last month. The three jurists, whose cases are being filed today before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are Justices John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, and a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola. The case files of the three suspects, which Vanguard sighted, last night, border mainly on money laundering and illegal possession of firearms. Ngwuta, Ademola and Okoro While Justices Okoro and Ngwuta are to be charged with alleged money laundering, Ademola is facing charges of alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms. The judges may risk no fewer than 58 years in jail, if convicted. Sources close to the Federal High Court in Abuja, confirmed to Vanguard that the cases are to be filed today by the Federal Government to signal a legal battle that may shake and reshape the Nigerian judiciary. According to court records available to Vanguard, the Federal Government is charging them to court, pursuant to Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Specifically, Justice Adeniyi Ademola is slammed with four charges, with two bordering on alleged money laundering and others pinned on alleged illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Ademola’s alleged offencesCOUNT ONE—STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Money laundering, contrary to section 16 (1) (d) of Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16 (2) (B) of the same Act. PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE: “That you Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola ‘M, 63 years, of No 32, Samuel Ogbemudia Crescent, Apo Zone E, Abuja on or about the 7th day of October, 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in your possession, cash in the sum of Fifty Four Million Naira (N54, 000, 000.00) exceeding the amount authorised under the law and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 16 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended). COUNT TWO — STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Money laundering, contrary to Section 16 (1) (d) of Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act. PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE: “That you Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola ‘M’, 63 years, of No 32, Samuel Ogbemudia Crescent, Apo Zone E, Abuja on or about the 7th day of October, 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in your possession the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-One thousand, Two hundred and seventy nine United States of American Dollars ($121,279) exceeding the amount authorised under the law and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 16 (1) (d) of Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended). COUNT THREE — STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Illegal possession of fiirearms contrary to Section 4 of Fire Arms Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) (I) of the same Act PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE: “That you Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola ‘M, 63 years of No 32, Samuel Ogbemudia Crescent, Apo Zone E, Abuja on or about the 7th day of October, 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession two Pump Action rifles without Licence and with serial numbers: AVAR MAGNUM 6084 and AVAR MAGNUM 6284 respectively and, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Fire Arms Act, Cap F28 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) (H) of the same Act. COUNT FOUR—STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Illegal possession of Ammunition contrary to section 8 of the Fire Arms Act, 2004 and punishable under section 27 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act. According to legal experts, the judge could be jailed for up to one year on each count of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, if convicted. If that applies, it means Ademola can spend up to two years on the two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and seven years each on the two counts of money laundering, bringing the total jail term to 16 years on the four counts. Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court In the case of Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, the Federal Government is slamming him with three count charges, all bordering on money laundering and the offences can land him in jail for no fewer than 21 years, if convicted. According to lawyers familiar with money laundering offences, a suspect convicted for laundering can get a maximum of seven years on each count. He is accused by the Federal Government of receiving $20,000 from a former Governor; N18,589,330 from a businessma, in addition to keeping the sum of $38,833.00 cash at home as at the night of October 7, 2016 when the DSS stormed his Abuja residence in search of the proceeds of crime. He may spend up to seven years on each count of the three money laundering offences, making a total of 21 years, if convicted. COUNT ONE – STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Receiving gratification, contrary to Section 8 (1) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act, 2011 and punishable under the same section PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE: “That you John Inyang Okoro ‘Male, 57, of Lord Lugard Street, Area 11 Garki, Abuja, between the 7th August, 2014 and 16th July, 2015, corruptly received from a businessman (names withheld), through your personal bank account number 2000237945 domiciled at First Bank PLC, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, the sum of Eighteen Million, Five Hundred And Eighty-Nine thousand Three Hundred And Thirty Naira (NGN 18,589,330.00) in the discharge of your official duties as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in contravention of, and punishable under Section 8 (1) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act, 2011. COUNT TWO — STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Money laundering, contrary to Section 16 (1) (d) of Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE: “That you, John lnyang Okoro, adult, male, 57 years of age, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016 at 31, Lord Luguard Street, Area 11 Garki, Abula, FCT within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession in cash, without going through a financial institution, the sum of Thirty-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Three US Dollars ($38,833.00) in cash, denominated in One Hundred US Dollar ($100) bills, exceeding the amount authorised under the law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16 (1) (D) of the Money Laundering Act 2011, and punishable under Section 16(2)(bH3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. COUNT THREE — STATEMENT OF OFFENCE Receiving gratification, contrary to section 8 (1) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act, 2000.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/alleged-corruption-justices-okoro-ademola-ngwuta-risk-58-yrs-jail/

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