A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered that the monies recovered from Justice Sylvester Ngwuta’s home, be given to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for safe keeping.
The money would be kept at the apex bank pending the conclusion of the trial.
The Federal Government had tendered as evidence nine bags and boxes filled with local and foreign currencies before the court.
The items were allegedly recovered from his official residence in Abuja during a search operation carried out by officers of the State Security Service, SSS.
Of the nine items, eight of them contained naira notes, totaling N35,358,000.
The ninth bag contained £25,915; $319,596 (USD); R50 (South African rands); 380 (dirhams); 420 dalasis and €280 (euros).
Justice Ngwuta is being prosecuted by the FG on 13 counts, including passport fraud, money laundering allegations of retention and concealment of origin of the sums contained in the nine bags and boxes.
Justice Tsoho admitted and marked the boxes as exhibits 11 A-I, while the monies were admitted as exhibit-12.
Prosecution counsel, Olufemi Fatunde then applied that they should be returned to the SSS for onward transfer to the CBN.
