A female student of the University of Abuja, Ms Lesley Hart, on Tuesday told an Abuja High Court that Alhaji Mohammed Akoyi, a judge of the Upper Area Court, Gwagwalada, demanded N50, 000 as bribe from her.

Akoyi the judge and Abdullahi Wodi, the Registrar of the Upper Area Court, are facing charges of criminal conspiracy filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

They were both arraigned in court on Aug. 10, 2009 for allegedly violating provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.

The charge sheet with reference number FCT/HC/CR/59/09, indicated that Akoyi and Wodi allegedly violated Section 15(a)-(c) and 16(1) (a) of the ICPC Act 2000 by making false entry into the record of the court proceedings with the intent to conceal the crime of corruption.

Hart while responding to questions from the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Malik Ado at the resumed hearing in the court presided over by Justice Ishaq Bello said Akoyi made the demands from her in 2006 because he was presiding over a case of harassment by her former landlord, who she claimed seized her belongings, after increasing the house rent.

She said that Wodi the registrar told her that the upper area court judge asked him to collect the amount before her belongings would be released to her.

Bello adjourned the case to March 15 for prosecution to present another witness.

NAN