Supreme Court justice, Sylvester Ngwuta on Monday was arraigned for alleged money laundering and charges related to multiple ownership of passports before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) during a raid at the justice’s house had discovered two diplomatic passports and two Nigerian passports in the name of the defendant.

Ngwuta on Monday pleaded not guilty to 16 counts charges leveled against him.

In the charges, it was alleged that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m “denominated in naira and US dollars” to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.

The prosecuting counsel, Charles Adeogun-Philips informed the presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho of his intention to bring forward a witness after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the defence led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) later informed the court of his client’s bail application.

Adeogun-Philips suggested a two-hour break to read the motion to enable him to take a decision on whether to oppose it or not.

The judge then stood down till 12.30pm.

Azeez