The federal government has filed criminal charge against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh.
Saleh’s name had been penciled down alongside Barrister Aliyu Ibrahim, who is the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, for appointment as the next Executive Secretary, National Judicial Council.
The Federal Government filed a nine-count criminal charge against him and two others over alleged N2.2 billion fraud at an Abuja High Court.
Others named in the charge no. CR/13/2016 and dated November 3, 2016, are Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal, all staffers of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The defendants are being accused of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and taking gratification by Public officers contrary to Section 10 (a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
The charge reads as follows: “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 Two Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (NGN2.2 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.
Count two bordering on criminal breach of trust reads; “Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M’, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ and Rilwanu Lawal “M” all of Supreme Court of Nigeria between 2009 and 2016 being entrusted with property and/or dominion over property belonging to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in your capacity as public officers, committed the offence of Criminal Breach of Trust to wit: diversion of the total sum of Two Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (NGN2.2 Billion) belonging to the Supreme Court of Nigeria into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank for Africa PLC a/c no: 2027642863 contrary to section 315 of the Penal code Act cap 532 LEN (Abuja) 2004.