Terhemen Abua.
A Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, Lagos Division, has struck out the criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, against a serving judge of the Federal High Court, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.
The EFCC had arraigned the judge for allegedly receiving a total of $260,000 and N8.65m gratification to enrich himself as a public official.
The anti-graft agency alledged that the judge received the money through his bank account between 2013 and 2015, claiming also that he could not explain the source of the funds.
According to the EFCC, Nganjiwa acted contrary to Section 82(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.
Nganjiwa was also accused of giving false information to operatives of the EFCC, which, the prosecution said amounted to an offence under Section 39 (2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2014.
The trial of the judge had commenced before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, but following an appeal by his lawyer, Robert Clark SAN, the Court of Appeal, Monday, struck out the charges.
Credit: Punch
