•’Money laundering, forgery and corruption’ The Federal Government has filed a six-count charge of money laundering, forgery and corruption against Supreme Court Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta. The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/232/2016 was filed yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Justice Ngwuta, 65, is one of the judicial officers recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). He was alleged to have retained, in his possession, N35, 358, 000.00 contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended). The state also accused him of unlawfully retaining in his possession, $319,596.00 (USD) and (GBP) 25, 915 all of which according to the prosecutors, formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act contrary to the Money Laundering Act. The prosecutor said Ngwuta possessed four passports — two official and two standard Nigerian passports— all in the name of the defendant. They further accused him of obtaining multiple passports contrary to Section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section. Ngwuta is also accused of making false statement to the passport office concerning his date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional Diplomatic Passport for himself. The Supreme Court Justice was also alleged to have in his possession two valid diplomatic passports and thereby committed, an offence under Section 10 of the Immigration Act. The charge reads: Count one Statement of offence Money Laundering, contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of Ootober, 2016 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained in your possession the sum of thirty-five million, three hundred and fifty-eight thousand naira (NGN35,358,000.00) which sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended). Count two Statement of offence Money laundering, contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, ‘M?, ?65 years of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained in your possession the sum of three hundred and nineteen thousand five hundred and ninety-six United States of America ($319,596.00) dollars which sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) Count three Statement of offence Money laundering, contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali ta, adult, ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, on or about the 8th day of October, 2016 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained in your possession the sum of twenty-five thousand nine hundred and fifteen pounds sterling (GBP 25,915) which sum forms part of the proceeds act and you thereby committed an offence contrary section 15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended). Court four Statement of offence Offences with respect to Passports contrary to Section 10 (a)(1) of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 10 (1) of the Act. Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult, M, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, on 8th October 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had in your possession, two valid diplomatic passports and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 2015. Count five Statement of offence ?Offences with respect to Passports contrary to Section 10 (l) (a) of the immigration Act 2015 punishable under Section 10 (1) of the Act. Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult ‘M’, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Central District Abua, FCT, on 17 September 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, you knowingly made a false statement to the passport office concerning your date of birth for the purpose of procuring an additional diplomatic passport for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10(1)(c) of the Immigration Act. Count six Statement of offence Offences with respect to Passports contrary to section 10 (1) (d) of the Immigration Act 2015 punishable under Section 10 (1) of the same Act. Particulars of offence Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, adult male, 65 years, of No. 2 Yellow Houses, Supreme Court Quarters, Off Shehu Way, Central District, Abuja, FCT, on September 17, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, you submitted multiple application forms to one or more passport offices with the intention of obtaining multiple diplomatic passports for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (1) (d) of the Immigration Act 2015 and Punishable under Section 10 (1) of the same Act.]]>