Corrupting the bench: The charges against two Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, Mr Rickey Tarfa and Dr Joseph Nwobike are now being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for bribing judges to secure judgment.

While Rickey Tarfa SAN is accused of bribing two judges, Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa and Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira, with N2,335,000 Dr Nwobike SAN is alleged to have bribed two judges with N1,050,000.

Read excerpts from the charges filed by EFCC against the two Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 10th day of February, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to declare your assets in the Declaration of Assets Form administered on you by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission upon your arrest.

“Refusing to declare assets contrary to section 27(3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

“Making false information to an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission contrary to section 38(2) (a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 5th and 6th day of February, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly made a false statement to USMAN ZAKARI, (SENIOR DETECTIVE SUPERINTENDENT), an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in the course of the exercise of his duty, wherein you claimed to be 43 years old.

“Offering gratification to a public official contrary to section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No.11, 2011.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 27th day of June, 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 1, 500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) 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.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 3rd day of October, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 835,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Naira only) 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.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 22nd day of December, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) 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.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the 27th day of October, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N1, 500, 000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court by directly depositing the said sum into Awa Ajia Nig Ltd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that the said Judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on the on the 8th day of January,2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court by directly depositing the said sum into Awa Ajia Nig Ltd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that the said Judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] on or about the 30th day of November, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nig Ltd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.

“That you RICKEY TARFA [S.A.N] 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 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nig Ltd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya in order that Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.”

For Nwobike, the charges are as follows :

“That you DR. JOSEPH NWOBIKE [S.A.N] on the 19th day of March, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court directly through your United Bank for Africa Plc Account No.1002664061 in order that the said Judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.

“That you DR. JOSEPH NWOBIKE [S.A.N] on the 28th day of September, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intentionally gave the sum of N 300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nig Ltd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court in order that the Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.

“That you DR. JOSEPH NWOBIKE [S.A.N] on the 19th day of March, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to pervert the course of justice by paying directly through your United Bank for Africa Plc Account No.1002664061 the sum of N 750,000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Naira only) to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court before whom you have instituted and commenced proceedings.”
Tarfa had earlier been