An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has dismissed the 13-count charge of corrupt practices against a Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Ngwuta.
Ngwuta was arraigned by the federal government after his house, along with those of five other judges, were raided in 2016 by the State Security Service.
During the search, some foreign currencies were said to be found in his residence.
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But giving his verdict on Friday, the judge, John Tsoho said the case against the judge did not take the right course.
According to him, the case fell under the type that should be subjected to the National Judicial Council (NJC) before taken to the court.
He said it was wrong not to clear the case with the NJC before it was presented in court.
His words: “The court holds that the condition precedent to filing of the charge against the applicant (Ngwuta) was not fulfilled. Consequently, the jurisdiction of this court to try same was not properly invoked.
“Therefore, the proceedings taken so far herein are declared a nullity, the charge is struck out and the applicant discharged.”
