The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court that Dr. Joseph Nwobike, (SAN), who is being tried for allegedly bribing some judges, filed two of the eight suits which led to Justice Mohammed Yinusa’s sanction by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, Counsel to the EFCC, made this known while cross-examining the judge in his ongoing trial for alleged perversion of course of justice and offering gratification to public officials.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two suits are – John Simon Adhomene Vs the EFCC and Dr Femi Thomas Vs the EFCC.
The anti-graft Commission alleged that some of the misconduct of the Nwobike and Justice Yinusa of the Federal High Court led to the judge’s sanction.
Oyedepo, who showed Nwobike a letter from the NJC dated Nov. 8, 2016 which was addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, said: “The NJC had considered the Simon John Adhomene suit and Dr Femi Thomas suit you filed against the EFCC.
“In recommending Justice Yinusa for dismissal, it was the findings of the NJC that the decision of the judge restraining the EFCC in those cases and five other cases were contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision in A.G Anambra Vs Andy Ubah.
“Out of the eight cases adjudicated by Justice Yinusa, the handling of which he was recommended for dismissal, two of those cases were filed by you (Nwobike).
Confronting Nwobike further about the John Simon Adhomene Vs the EFCC suit, Oyedepo said, “are you aware that as a SAN, a statutory body should not be restrained from carrying out its lawful duties.
“Would you agree with me that your client, Mr Adhomene was a public servant and a staff of the Niger Delta University?
“In the Simon Adhomene suit, your prayer was that Justice Yinusa should set aside the order of interim attachments granted by the Lagos High Court.
“You also asked Justice Yinusa for an order preventing the EFCC from restraining, inviting, interrogating, arraigning, and detaining your client in this suit.
“Your client, Mr Adhomene, prior to filing this suit, was yet to report to the EFCC not withstanding an invitation to him.
“Your friend, Justice Yinusa presided over this matter, stopped the EFCC from arresting and arraigning your client.
“He set aside the order of the Lagos High Court which froze the account of your client as shown in Exhibit 11.”
“When you filed the suit before Justice Yinusa, the EFCC had filed a counter-affidavit and had attached the Lagos High Court order freezing that account.”
Oyedepo alleged that prior to the suit filed before Yinusa , the defendant allegedly had text message communication with one Mr Jide, a Deputy Registrar of the Federal High Court, requesting the case be assigned to the judge.
“At 6.43 a.m. on Sep. 28, 2015, you sent the suit details of the Adhomene Vs EFCC case to the Mr Jide, you included the name of Justice Yinusa in that text.”
Responding to the EFCC allegations, Nwobike said he was not aware that his client was under investigation by the EFCC and that he was only aware of the facts given to him by his client.
“The brief I had was that the EFCC was not conducting the matter within the ambit of the law that set it up and that we should go to court seeking an order directing the EFCC to comply with the law.
“I can’t recollect knowing the fact that my client was a public servant before the commencement of the charge.”
NAN
Send your press release/articles to:
info@dnlpartners.com ,Follow us on Twitter at @dnlpartners and Facebook at Facebook.com/Dnl-partners