BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned Innocent Umezuluike, former chief judge of Enugu state, before Anthony Onovo, a judge of the state high court.
The former chief judge is standing trial on a one-count charge of using his office to “confer corrupt and unfair advantage”.
The EFCC alleged that Umezuluike received a N10 million donation from Arthur Eze in 2014 who at the time had a case before him.
The anti-graft agency said Eze who is the chief executive officer of Oranto Petroleum paid the said sum into Umezuluike’ Zenith bank account for the launch of his book ‘ABC of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria’.
At the court, Wahab Shittu, counsel of the EFCC, said the action was contrary to section 19 of the independent and corrupt practices and other related (offence) act (laws of the federation) 2000.
But Umezuluike pleaded, “not guilty” when the charge was read to him.
Agu Gab-Agu, counsel of the former chief judge, prayed the court to grant his client bail and for him to be addressed as “honourable justice”.
Shittu did not object to Gab-Agu’s prayer, and the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million.
The case was adjourned till October 26 for hearing.
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