Alleged N2.2bn fraud: FG files charges against S-Court Registrar, two others

ABUJA—The Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has filed criminal charges against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Saleh Gambo, before an Abuja High Court.

Supreme Court

Gambo was charged alongside the Assistant Director of Finance at the apex court, Rilwanu Lawal, and the Deputy Director of Finance, Sharif Abdulrahman.

The trio will be answering to a nine-count charge marked CR/13/16 and dated November 3, which the AGF filed pursuant to sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The defendants were specifically alleged to have diverted N2.2 billion belonging to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank For Africa Plc with account number 2027642863.

They were further alleged to have, between 2009 and 2016, received gratification in the sum of N10 million from Willysdave Ltd, a private contractor to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.

Charges against them, which Vanguard sighted last night, read: “That you Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif, and Rilwanu Lawal, are charged with the following offences:

Count One

Statement of Offence:

Conspiracy, contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 LFN (Abuja) 2004 punishable under Section 97 of the same Act.

Particulars Of Offence:

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 N2.2 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

Statement of Offence

Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 LFN (Abuja) 2004 and punishable under the same Act.

Particulars of Offence

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 N2.2 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.

Count Three

Statement of Offence:

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.

Statement of Offence

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.

“Particulars of Offence; Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M’, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ and Rilwanu Lawal “M” all of Supreme Court of Nigeria, being public officers, between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, received gratification in the sum of ten million naira N10,000,000 from Willysdave Ltd, a private contractor to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.

Count Four

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.

Particulars of Offence

Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M’, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ and Rilwanu Lawal “M” all of Supreme Court of Nigeria, being public officers, between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the
honourable court, obtained gratification in the sum of N 6,000,000 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10(a) (i) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.

Count Five

Statement of Offence

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.

Particulars of Offence

Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M’, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ And Rilwanu Lawal “M” all of Supreme Court of Nigeria, and being public officers, between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, obtained gratification in the sum of N 6,000,000 from Welcon Nig. Ltd, a contractor who provided services to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence 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.

Count Six

Statement of Offence: 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.

Particulars of Offence

Ahmed Gambo Saleh W, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ And Rilwanu Lawal ‘M’, in your respective official capacities as staff of the Supreme Court of Nigeria between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, obtained gratification in the sum N 2,400,000.00 from Welcon Nigeria Ltd, a private contractor who provided services to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence 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.

Count Seven

Statement of Offence: 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.

Particulars of Offence: Ahmed Gambo Saleh ‘M’, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ‘M’ And Rilwanu Lawal ‘M’, all of Supreme Court of Nigeria and being public officers, on January 9, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, obtained a gratification in the sum of N 16,000,000.00 from Dean Musa Nig. Limited, a private contractor who provided services to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence 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.

Count Eight

Statement of Offence

Taking gratification by public officers contrary to Section 10 (a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

Particulars of Offence

Ahmed Gambo Saleh “M, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharifm and Rilwanu Lawal M’, all of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, being public officers, between 2009 and 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, obtained a gratification in the sum of N19,000,000.00 from Ababia Ventures Ltd being a private contractor who provided services to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and thereby
committed an offence 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.

Count Nine

Statement of Offence

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.

Particulars of Offence

Ahmed Gambo Saleh ‘Mù Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif ,Ùm” Ahmed Gambo Saleh And Rilwanu Lawal M’, all of Supreme Court of Nigeria, being public officers, between 2009 and 2016, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, obtained gratification in the sum of N21,000,000.00 from MBR Computers Ltd, a private contractor who provided services to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence 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.”

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