Read why two senior Nigerian lawyers were arraigned by EFCC
– The EFCC accused two senior lawyers of bribing judges
– The anti-graft agency also accused one of them of trying to obstruct justice
– Trial dates have been fixed for the cases
Two senior Nigerian lawyers, Rickey Tarfa and Joseph Nwobike have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly bribing judges.
Premium Times reports that Tarfa was arraigned before Justice A. A. Akintoye of a Lagos high court on a 27-count charge.
Mr. Tarfa who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pleaded not guilty to the charges and Rotimi Oyedepo who is the prosecuting counsel asked the court to fix a trial date.
Bolaji Ayorinde who is the counsel to the accused urged the judge to grant Tarfa bail on self-recognition.
The judge adjourned the case till March 22 and granted the defendant bail.
READ ALSO: EFCC exposes lawyer of bribery
One of the counts read: “That you Rickey Tarfa SAN on the 29th day of January 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court intentionally gave the sum of N1, 500,000.00 to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court directly from your Zenith Bank Account No. 1002926967 in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.”
Another charge reads: “That you Rickey Tarfa SAN on or about the 15th day of December, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court intentionally gave the sum of N500,000.00 to Hon. Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited’s account No. 0000971941 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that Hon. Mohammed Nasir Yunusa refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties.”
Tarfa is also facing charges for allegedly obstructing EFCC operatives from arresting some suspects by hiding them in his car.
READ ALSO: I gave judge money for burial not bribe – Tarfa
Nwobike who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was arraigned before Justice R.I.B Adebiyi of the Lagos state high court on five-count charge of allegedly bribing a federal high court judge.
In his statement to the EFCC, he admitted giving N750,000 to Justice Yunusa to assist the judge in the treatment of his sick mother.
One of the charges read: “You Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) on the 28th day of March 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, intentionally gave the sum of N750,000 to Honourable Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court directly through your United Bank for Africa Account No. 1002664061 in order that the said Judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011”.
Rotimi Oyedepo who is the prosecuting counsel asked the court for a trial date after the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Justice Adebiyi admitted Mr. Nwobike to bail on self-recognition and adjourned the matter till April 11, 21 and 22 for commencement of trial.
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