FG Files Charges Against Supreme Court Registrar, 2 Others over N2.2bn Fraud

FG Files Charges Against Supreme Court Registrar, 2 Others over N2.2bn Fraud

The federal government has filed criminal charges against the chief registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mr Saleh Gambo, for his role in the alleged diversion of N2.2 billion belonging to the court.

The Supreme Court registrar was charged alongside two other officials of the court. Assistant director of finance at the Supreme Court, Mr Rilwanu Lawal and the deputy director of finance, Mr Sharif Abdulrahman.

Vanguard reports that the nine-count charge marked CR/13/16 and dated November 3, was filed by the office of the attorney-general of the federation, in line with the provision of sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The Supreme Court registrar and the two other defendants were specifically alleged to have diverted N2.2 billion belonging to the apex court, into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank For Africa Plc with account number 20276428630

They were further alleged to have, between 2009 and 2016, received gratification in the sum of N10 million from Willysdave Ltd, a private contractor to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

A portion of the charge sheet read: “That you Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif, and Rilwanu Lawal, are charged with the following offences:

“Count One Statement of Offence: Conspiracy, contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Act   CAP 532 LFN (Abuja) 2004 punishable under Section 97 of the same Act.

“Particulars Of Offence: Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M” Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ and Rilwanu Lawal ‘M’, all of Supreme Court of Nigeria 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 of Nigeria into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank For Africa PLC a/c no 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.”