Just In: ‘Suspended’ Justice Ngwuta Resumes Work At Supreme Court

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta who was technically suspended from the bench of the Supreme Court on Monday resumes official duties.

Naija News recalls that Ngwuta and some judges had their houses raided by the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) in August 2016.

Ngwuta was later charged with money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja, and with assets declaration breaches before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

But both cases were dismissed in 2018 following a Court of Appeal’s verdict which prohibited the trial of a serving judge without being first disciplined by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The NJC had on several occasions stated that Nguwta was never suspended as he was still paid his monetary dues.

Ngwuta who has not been part of any sitting or ceremony of the court since 2016 emerged on Monday as he joined the members of the Supreme Court’s bench at the special court session marking the commencement of the new 2019/2020 legal year.

Justice Ngwuta sat on the bench as the third most senior judge, behind the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, and Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.

Next to Justice Nguwta in terms of seniority is Justice Mary Peter-Odili.