The Court of Appeal on Monday dismissed the corruption charges against a serving judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on June 23 arraigned the judge on a 14 –count charge before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.
The Commission had alleged that the judge received a total of $260,000 and N8.65m (about N81, 705,000) gratification from some lawyers to enrich himself as a public official.
The judge pleaded not guilty to the charges and trial had already commenced before Justice Akintoye when the defendant objected to the trial and informed the court of his appeal before the upper court.
However, in a judgment on Monday, the appellate court panel presided over by Justice Adejumo Obaseki quashed the 14 charges filed against Justice Nganjiwa.
The appellate court held that the EFCC lacks the power to charge the judge to court based on the allegation against him.
Justice Nganjiwa, through his lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), had in its appeal, argued against the Lagos High Court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charges.
Prior to Justice Nganjiwa’s arraignment on June 23, Clarke had argued a preliminary objection challenging the lower court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
