The Nigerian Correctional Service Center was decongested on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, by the Chief Justice of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Hon. Chuma Nzeribe, who had been given a 10-year sentence without the option of a fine in the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Hon. Chuma Nzeribe, was one of the convicts he freed.
EFCC filed Charge No. FCT/HC/791/2020, which led to the resignation of Ethiopian Airlines’ chairman. Court 14 Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu served as the chair.
The EFCC also replied that the FCT High Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain any application by the Applicant since there is a pending Appeal before the Court of Appeal and all parties have filed their briefs of argument and issues were joined. The convict had earlier filed an application for his bail pending appeal.
The CJ visited the prison and freed the prisoner as the parties awaited a time to debate the bail pending appeal motion before the court. It’s important to remember that the convict has been condemned in absentia since May 23, 2022.
After the conviction, Justice Yusuf issued an order requiring the defendant to appear in court for sentencing. Following extensive surveillance, the EFCC eventually apprehended the convict sometime this year, and among other things, he was given a term of 10 years in prison without the possibility of a fine. Just three months ago, the convict was transferred to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Chuma Nzeribe, a former member of the House of Representatives, was found guilty by Justice Halilu Yusuf of the FCT High Court in Abuja of impersonation, possession of Federal Government documents, and using those documents to fraudulently purchase land.
Nzeribe, who stood for governor on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket, was found guilty on all four of the federal government’s accusations against him on Monday.
However, because he was not present in court on Monday when the verdict was announced, the defendant was unable to receive a prison sentence.
When delivering the ruling, Justice Yusuf stated that he would reserve the punishment till the convict was apprehended by EFCC agents and police and brought before the court.
The judge ruled that Ishaya Madi, the land’s owner, must take possession of the Maitama property obtained through forgery immediately.
For the third day in a row, Nzeribe avoided the court without a good explanation.
The EFCC testified in court that Nzeribe sent the agency a Memorandum of Understanding MoU, releasing the land he had obtained fraudulently to Ishaya Madi.