Absence of Nganjiwa, judge recalled by NJC, stalls arraignment

The absence of Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, a judge facing corruption charges, stalled his arraignment at a Lagos state high court on Tuesday.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had recalled Nganjiwa and five other judges who were facing allegations of corruption.

According to a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the judge was to be arraigned on a 14-count charge of unlawful enrichment and of giving false information to the agency.

The judge allegedly received $260,000 and N8.65 million through his bank accounts between 2013 and 2015 from suspicious and inexplicable sources.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Robert Clarke SAN, counsel to Nganjiwa,  apologised for the absence of his client, explaining that the judge could not travel from his base in Bayelsa state owing to flight problems.

He promised that his client would be in court at the next adjourned date.

Responding, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC,  expressed disappointment at the absence of the accused person, which he said was tantamount to disrespect for the court because he was duly served.

“We are extremely disappointed by the wilful refusal of the defendant to appear before Your Lordship. On June 9, the defendant was served with the charge, which he acknowledged. He was also duly informed of the proceedings before My Lord today. It is an act of disrespect for the defendant not to appear before this court,” he said.

After listening to the arguments of the counsel, the judge adjourned the case till June 23, and he ordered the defence counsel to produce Nganjiwa in court.