N3billion Amnesty Contract Fraud: Ex-Militant leaders petition NJC, FCT Chief Judge, accuses judge of alleged N200m bribe, judicial rascality, gross misconduct.

Ex-Militant Leaders from across the Niger Delta region under the aegis of the Coalition of Ex-Militant Leaders have written a strongly worded petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), and the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over the alleged cases of N200million bribery, misconduct, and judicial rascality by the Hon. Justice M. S. Idris of the FCT High Court sitting in Jabi FCT, Abuja.

According to the Ex-Militant leaders, the accused Judge Hon. Justice M. S. Idris is involved in alleged cases of bribery, Judicial rascality, bias, gross misconduct, and the unacceptable conduct in Nine (9) cases bothering on alleged fraudulent recovery of over N3,000,000,000 (three billion naira) in unexecuted Presidential Amnesty Programme contracts.

The Ex-Militant leaders, in a petition dated 27th January 2023 and titled “PETITION AGAINST HON. JUSTICE M.  S. IDRIS SITTING AT THE FCT HIGH COURT FOR ALLEGED N200-MILLION BRIBERY SCAM, JUDICIAL RASCALITY, BIAS AND GROSS MISCONDUCT IN A N3-BILLION FRAUDULENT CLAIM, AND FOR HON. JUSTICE M.  S. IDRIS TO BE IMMEDIATELY RECUSED FROM THESE CASES,” alleged that the accused Judge has been compromised by the claimant, who frequently boast that the judiciary is under is foot-step, “And our concern is now is how His Lordship is dancing to the tune of the claimants, ignoring all known and established legal procedures and decisions, in the handling of the 9 cases.”

According to the aggrieved Ex-Militants, the 9 cases before the accused Judge include: SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1462/2021 CARSTRAVAGANZA LIMITED (CLAIMANT), SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1460/2021 CITI HIGH RESOURCES LIMITED (CLAIMANT), SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1466/2021 JAMUB CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA LIMITED (CLAIMANT), SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1463/2021 JAMUB ENERGY LIMITED (CLAIMANT), and SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1461/2021 JAMUB PROPERTY NIGERIA LIMITED (CLAIMANT).

Others include SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1459/2021 STAGE BY STAGE PROJECT LIMITED (CLAIMANT), and SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1464/2021 SUMMA CUM LAUDE LIMITED (CLAIMANT).

The petition signed by the Secretary-General,  Chief Gowon Epere, the Coordinator, Dr. James A. Obohnevie and Comrade Akpan, O. Essien, stated that “the claimants in all the cases have claimed that they were issued contracts by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), and according to them they have executed the contract, therefore they are asking the court  to order that they be paid. On getting wind of the frivolous and fraudulent claims filed by the claimants, we decided to join as interested parties, been the accredited beneficiaries of the alleged contract issued to the claimants, and our basis for wanting to join the suit was not to benefit from the alleged fraudulent contracts issued to the claimants, but to show the court that the purported contract was void ab-initio.”

“Upon refusal of our motion to join, we swiftly appealed the application and also hurriedly transmitted records. All these steps were duly communicated to the court. But our representatives who were in court on the day our team of lawyers addressed the court that records of appeal have been transmitted, heard whispers from other old lawyers that the court was supposed to adjourn the matter until the appeal is concluded.”

“In-fact, the judge himself said that a similar matter was before him that he had to hands-off when the senior lawyers in that matter appealed to the court of appeal against his (judge) ruling, and that after 2 years the matter was still pending before him. It is now shocking and at the same time clear to us that Justice M. S. Idris have been compromised in this matter, by the alter ego claimant (JAMUB) who have consistently boasted that the judiciary is under him. His statements have been proven by his lordship who have ignored all know legal and established procedures even after our lawyers clearly drew his attention to the transmission of records of appeal, he blatantly refused to stay proceedings, even where superior decisions were cited for him.”

“Rather he ordered our lawyers to argue this motion. Worst still the judge adjourned the matter for ruling and hearing, which decision lawyers in the court were amazed on the proceedings which procedure ordinarily suggest that our application for stay of proceeding, based on the fact that our lawyers filed and have transmitted records, will not be granted.”

“Another shocking disposition of the judge is the fact that he kept emphasizing that he wants to entertain the matters as soon as possible, this are matter that were filed barely a year. The question is what is the urgency or hurry in delivering judgment in this matter, is it because truly the judge has been promised that he will be rewarded handsomely with N200million if he delivers judgment in good time?? The question is what is the urgency or hurry in delivering judgment in this matter, is it because truly the judge has been promised that he will be rewarded handsomely if he delivers judgment in good time? From the utterances and disposition of the judge in the way he handles this suit, we are convinced that he has been compromised and we do not have any faith in getting justice before him.”

“What is more, is that 15 matters were filed on same day and 9 separate cases out of the 15 matters which were all controlled by the alter ego (JAMUB) were assigned to this judge alone. We call on urgent investigation into the affairs of the judge and plead that the matter be taken away from him, as we do not have any faith and confidence in getting judgment. The judge has behaved in such a manner that suggests that he had an understanding with the claimants which formed the reason why he kept adjourning the matters and ignoring know procedures and why the cases were assigned to him alone.”

“It can be reasonably inferred that it is in fact the financial promises have over-clouded the judgment of the judge by ignoring decided authorities. It is as a result of the above stated facts that we crave the indulgence of this noble and honorable council to look into this case and withdraw the matter from Hon. Justice M. A Idris as all we desire is justice by the law and also melt necessary correctional measures on him.”

“From the utterances and disposition of the judge in the way he handles this suit, we are convinced that he has been compromised and we do not have any faith in getting justice before him.”