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Court shifts arraignment of Judge over alleged N200m bribe

By Collins Osuji, Owerri
08 June 2019   |   4:13 am
The Imo State High Court, yesterday, adjourned the arraignment of a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division...

High Court

The Imo State High Court, yesterday, adjourned the arraignment of a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, Justice Ladan Tsamiya, until July 11, following his absence in court to face charges against him.

In the matter instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Tsamiya was accused of allegedly demanding N200million bribe from a politician to influence the judgment in his favour.

However, following the absence of the accused in the court, Justice Eze Njamanze, adjourned the matter until July 11 for the arraignment.

Njamanze frowned at the accused’s absence in court and said the court would issue a bench warrant against him if he fails to appear before it on the next adjourned date.

Counsel to the accused jurist, David Adegbe, had told the court that his client had traveled abroad for medical treatment.

But Counsel to the ICPC, George Lawan, who opposed Adegbe’s position, said the accused was taking the court for granted.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the matter was adjourned, the head of Public Enlightenment of ICPC in Imo State, Chinwe Nwozo, disclosed that the anti-graft agency would see the matter to the end, adding: “We are arraigning Justice Ladan Tsamiya for asking for N200million to influence an appeal. The appeal before him was an electoral matter and it was a politician that he was demanding the money from.

“The court has asked us to come back on July 11 to enable us arraign him. His absence frustrated his arraignment today, but I am happy that the court reprimanded him through his lawyer. Hopefully, we will arraign him on July 11.”

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