The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday
at an Ikeja High Court filed fresh corruption charges against Dr
Joseph Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Nwobike, prior to his re-arraignment, is facing similar charges
of offering gratification to a public official, perverting the
course of justice and giving false statements to an official of the
EFCC.
He, however, plead not guilty to the newly amended 18-count
charge of offering gratification to a public official, perverting
the course of justice and giving false statements to an official of
the EFCC, according to newsmen report.
The new charges border on the exchange of text messages between
the SAN, judges and court registrars as well as alleged
gratification to Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court,
Lagos.
According to Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC prosecutor, Nwobike had
on March 19, 2015 given the sum of N750,000 to Justice Yunusa and
also on Dec. 15, 2014 given N250,000 to Helen Ogunleye, a Senior
Executive Officer of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The anti-graft agency alleged that on March 4, 2014, Nwobike
instructed Ogunleye (Justice Kurya’s registrar) to prevail on
Justice Kurya to discharge a court order and on Dec. 15, 2014, he
allegedly gave Ogunleye an envelope containing cash to give the
judge.
It was also alleged that on March 4, 2014, Nwobike sent a text
message to Ogunleye, saying “let Oga discharge that order.”
It is alleged by the EFCC that the instruction was acted upon
with Ogunleye replying, “I ‘ve told Oga the last time you called me
that you are in Abuja sir, and he said there should be a cogent
from you before he can do that sir. Just see him after court
session sir, this is confidential sir, pls.”
The EFCC alleged that the embattled senior advocate exchanged
text messages with some judges of the Federal High Court,
Lagos.
Nwobike had on Nov. 27, 2015 sent a text message
“FHC/L/CS/1799/15 between Godwin Nwekoyo and Inspector General of
Police” to Justice Musa Kurya.
On Oct. 8, 2015, Nwobike had allegedly suggested in a text the
assignment of Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1533/2015 between Mieka Dive Ltd
and 3 Ors V EFCC to Justice Kurya.
The EFCC said on Sep. 23, 2015 Nwobike sent a text containing
Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1471 between Mr Simon Adohmene and the EFCC to
Justice Yunusa.
It is also alleged that the SAN sent a text to Justice Yunusa
for the assignment to his court of Dr Olufemi Thomas Vs The EFCC
with suit no. FHC/L/CS/1445/2015.
On June 4, 2015 Nwobike in the nee charges allegedly suggested
by text that Suit No. FHC/L/CS/794/2015 between Transnational
Corporation and Attorney General of the Federation be assigned to
either justices Yunusa or Saidu.
On Feb. 12, 2015 Nwobike had suggested in a text message that
Suit No. FHC/L/CS/127/2015 between AMCON and Delta Steel Company
Ltd be assigned to either Justices Yunusa or Aneke.
The EFCC also in the charges alleged that Nwobike on a text
message to Mr Jide a Federal High Court Assistant Registrar ordered
that the case Odefa Obasi Odefa and the Security Exchange
Commission (SEC) with Suit No. FHC/L/CS/13/2015 be assigned to
either Justices Yunusa or Aneke.
On Oct. 8, 2014 Nwobike allegedly sent a text to Mr Jide with
these words “Combase Energy Ltd and Anor Vs UBA Plz and Ors.
FHC/L/CS/1492/2014, Saidu thanks, sorry Kurya, he said he will
start sitting next week, thanks.”
On Sep. 22, 2014, the SAN allegedly sent to Mr Jide “Good
afternoon sir, Wafa and Anor Vs Diamond Bank and two others,
FHC/L/CS/1395/14, Kurya, Thanks so much.”
On June 30, 2014 Nwobike allegedly sent a text message to Mr
Jide saying, “FHC/L/CS/1009/14, Lantern Olaoluwa and Federal
Ministry of Power and Steel, Yunusa J, important Sir, please help
me with this one, it had urgency, I will show tomorrow, goodnight
my Lord.”
On March 13, 2014 Nwobike is alleged to have sent Mr Jide a text
message stating “Suit No: FHC/L/CS/347/14 between Professor
Emmanuel Adegbeyeni and six others and Mr Biodun Agbaje and 15
others Yunusa.”
The anti-graft agency also alleged that on Feb. 26, 2016,
Nwobike made a statement to Mr Zakari Usman, an official of the
EFCC.
The SAN allegedly told the EFCC investigator: “The only judicial
officer that I had assisted financially is Justice Yunusa of the
Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.”
The offences, according to the prosecution, violated Sections
39(2) 64(1) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case until April 30 for
trial.
NAN
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday
at an Ikeja High Court filed fresh corruption charges against Dr
Joseph Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Nwobike, prior to his re-arraignment, is facing similar charges
of offering gratification to a public official, perverting the
course of justice and giving false statements to an official of the
EFCC.
He, however, plead not guilty to the newly amended 18-count
charge of offering gratification to a public official, perverting
the course of justice and giving false statements to an official of
the EFCC, according to newsmen report.
The new charges border on the exchange of text messages between
the SAN, judges and court registrars as well as alleged
gratification to Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court,
Lagos.
According to Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC prosecutor, Nwobike had
on March 19, 2015 given the sum of N750,000 to Justice Yunusa and
also on Dec. 15, 2014 given N250,000 to Helen Ogunleye, a Senior
Executive Officer of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The anti-graft agency alleged that on March 4, 2014, Nwobike
instructed Ogunleye (Justice Kurya’s registrar) to prevail on
Justice Kurya to discharge a court order and on Dec. 15, 2014, he
allegedly gave Ogunleye an envelope containing cash to give the
judge.
It was also alleged that on March 4, 2014, Nwobike sent a text
message to Ogunleye, saying “let Oga discharge that order.”
It is alleged by the EFCC that the instruction was acted upon
with Ogunleye replying, “I ‘ve told Oga the last time you called me
that you are in Abuja sir, and he said there should be a cogent
from you before he can do that sir. Just see him after court
session sir, this is confidential sir, pls.”
The EFCC alleged that the embattled senior advocate exchanged
text messages with some judges of the Federal High Court,
Lagos.
Nwobike had on Nov. 27, 2015 sent a text message
“FHC/L/CS/1799/15 between Godwin Nwekoyo and Inspector General of
Police” to Justice Musa Kurya.
On Oct. 8, 2015, Nwobike had allegedly suggested in a text the
assignment of Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1533/2015 between Mieka Dive Ltd
and 3 Ors V EFCC to Justice Kurya.
The EFCC said on Sep. 23, 2015 Nwobike sent a text containing
Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1471 between Mr Simon Adohmene and the EFCC to
Justice Yunusa.
It is also alleged that the SAN sent a text to Justice Yunusa
for the assignment to his court of Dr Olufemi Thomas Vs The EFCC
with suit no. FHC/L/CS/1445/2015.
On June 4, 2015 Nwobike in the nee charges allegedly suggested
by text that Suit No. FHC/L/CS/794/2015 between Transnational
Corporation and Attorney General of the Federation be assigned to
either justices Yunusa or Saidu.
On Feb. 12, 2015 Nwobike had suggested in a text message that
Suit No. FHC/L/CS/127/2015 between AMCON and Delta Steel Company
Ltd be assigned to either Justices Yunusa or Aneke.
The EFCC also in the charges alleged that Nwobike on a text
message to Mr Jide a Federal High Court Assistant Registrar ordered
that the case Odefa Obasi Odefa and the Security Exchange
Commission (SEC) with Suit No. FHC/L/CS/13/2015 be assigned to
either Justices Yunusa or Aneke.
On Oct. 8, 2014 Nwobike allegedly sent a text to Mr Jide with
these words “Combase Energy Ltd and Anor Vs UBA Plz and Ors.
FHC/L/CS/1492/2014, Saidu thanks, sorry Kurya, he said he will
start sitting next week, thanks.”
On Sep. 22, 2014, the SAN allegedly sent to Mr Jide “Good
afternoon sir, Wafa and Anor Vs Diamond Bank and two others,
FHC/L/CS/1395/14, Kurya, Thanks so much.”
On June 30, 2014 Nwobike allegedly sent a text message to Mr
Jide saying, “FHC/L/CS/1009/14, Lantern Olaoluwa and Federal
Ministry of Power and Steel, Yunusa J, important Sir, please help
me with this one, it had urgency, I will show tomorrow, goodnight
my Lord.”
On March 13, 2014 Nwobike is alleged to have sent Mr Jide a text
message stating “Suit No: FHC/L/CS/347/14 between Professor
Emmanuel Adegbeyeni and six others and Mr Biodun Agbaje and 15
others Yunusa.”
The anti-graft agency also alleged that on Feb. 26, 2016,
Nwobike made a statement to Mr Zakari Usman, an official of the
EFCC.
The SAN allegedly told the EFCC investigator: “The only judicial
officer that I had assisted financially is Justice Yunusa of the
Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.”
The offences, according to the prosecution, violated Sections
39(2) 64(1) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case until April 30 for
trial.
NAN
Read more https://nairalaw.com/efcc-slams-fresh-corruption-charges-on-senior-advocate-nwobike/