The Federal Government has charged the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, and two other employees of the apex court with nine counts, including diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the court.Saleh is among those shortlisted for final consideration by the National Judicial Council to succeed the outgoing Secretary of the NJC, Mr. Danladi Halilu.Saleh, alongside Muhammed Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal, are also accused of receiving gratifications of N74.4m from private contractors providing services to the Supreme Court.
They allegedly committed the acts between 2009 and 2016.
When date of their arraignment is fixed, the accused persons will be facing 9 counts of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by allegedly diverting N2.2bn belonging to the apex court and receiving gratification as public officers.
The office of the Attorney General of the Federation filed the charges before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama on Thursday.
The facts leading to the filing of charges is believed to have been unearthed by the recent raid by the operatives of the Department of State Services on the homes of some judges, including two of them belonging to the Supreme Court bench, and some offices at the apex court complex.
Following the Thursday’s development, Punch reports that the Federal Government will approach the court to file charges against some of the arrested judges.
The prosecution alleged in counts three to nine that the accused, between 2009 and 2016, received gratification of N10m from Willysdave Ltd., N8.4m (in two tranches of N6m and N2.4m) from Welcon Nig. Ltd., N2.4m; N16m from Dean Musa Nig. Ltd.; N19m from Ababia Ventures Ltd. and N21m from MBR Computers.
Bribery and corruption becoming a normal thing even in the Supreme Court?
