From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal Government has filed a nine-count criminal charge against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others over alleged N2.2 billion fraud at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Others named in the charge no. CR/13/2016 and dated November 3, 2016, are Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal all staff of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The defendants are specifically accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and taking gratification by Public officers contrary to Section 10 (a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
One of the defendants and the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh is one of the contestants for the post of Secretary of the national Judicial Council [NJC].
The charges reads as follows: “Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal, all of the Supreme Court, between 2009 and 2016 did agree to do an illegal act to wit: diverted the total sum of N2.2 billion belonging to the Supreme Court into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank For Africa PLC with account number 2027642863 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 LFN (Abuja) 2004.
Count two bordering on criminal breach of trust said the trio, between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja, received N10 million gratification from Willysdave Ltd., a private contractor to the Supreme Court “and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.”
The three men, also, between 2009 and 2016, allegedly obtained gratification N6 million, contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.
They were also chrged with several other offences. with varying sums of money.