Federal Government Charges Supreme Court Officials For N2.2billion

The Nigerian government on Thursday brought forgery charges against three Supreme Court officials. The officials are accused of N2.2 billion fraud.

The charges, filed on October 3 at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory by the Attorney General of the Federation, also contain allegations of bribe amounting to tens of millions of naira.

According to the charge, the defendants, Muhammed Sharif, Ahmed Saleh and Rilwanu Lawal diverted N2.2 billion belonging to the Supreme Court to their personal bank account at the United Bank for Africa, with account number: 2027642863.

They were also accused of collecting tens of millions of naira as gratification contrary to the provisions of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act.

Count one deals with allegations of conspiracy.

In the charge, the defendants were said to have recieved N2.2 billion, and transferred same to their UBA account, between 2009 to 2016.

Count two contains allegations of a breach of trust.

Count three says the defendants received N10 million from a company, Willsdave Limited, a private contractor to the Supreme Court.

In count four, the officers are also accused collecting N6 million as bribe.

The defendants were also accused of collecting N16 million from a company, Dean Musa Nigeria Limited, as gratification in 2015.

Count Eight says the officials received N19 million from Ababia venture limited, between 2009 to 2016.

Count Nine says they took also N21 million bribe money from MBR computers limited, between 2009 to 2016.

Details of their designations were not immediately clear.

But some of the charges suggest the bribes could have been received to influence the award of contracts at the top court.

 
-primiumtimes