The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned a dismissed Federal High Court Judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa before an Ikeja Special offences Court, Lagos over allegations of perversion of course of justice.
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The former judge was arraigned alongside a staff at the firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co., one Esther Agbor, who was accused of paying N1. 5 million into Yunusa’s account.
They were arraigned on an amended 9-count charge bordering on attempt to pervert course of justice, corruption by public official, use of office or position for gratification in the sum of N2,250,000 million.
They pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC prosecutor, Wahab Shittu, told the court the first defendant, Justice Yunusa, used his position as a judge to collect money from counsels in order to rule in their favor.
Shittu said that Yunusa allegedly perverted the course of justice in certain cases with suit number: FHC/L/CS/714/2015,FHS/L/CS/715/2015, FHC/L/CS/716/2015 and LD/2516C/2016 which the commission found out during investigation.
The prosecutor further alleged that the second defendant sent huge sums of money to Yunusa during when the law firm, she works for (Rickey Tarfa & Co.) had pending cases before the judge.
“The second defendant sent the sum of N1,500,000 million on the 14th of May 2015 and a transfer of N750,000 on 19th of March 2015,” Shittu said.
In view of the defendant’s not guilty plea, the prosecution, Shittu asked the court for a trial date.
Justice Solebo adjourned the matter till February 12, 2020 for trial.
According to the charge sheet, “Yunusa between February and September, 2015, being a public official to wit: a judge of the Federal High Court attempted to pervert the course of justice by engaging in constant private and confidential telephone communications with Rickey Tarfa SAN, Counsel to the applicants in: Suit No. FHC/L/CS/714/2015 between Mr Adewale Adeniyi v EFCC & 2 others; Suit No. FHS/L/CS/715/2015 between Rena Prestige Industries Ltd & Anor. V. EFCC & 2 Others; Suit No.FHC/L/CS/716/2015 between Hair prestige manufacturing Nigeria ltd & 3 others v EFCC & 2 others during the period he presided over the said suits as judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
“Yunusa also between on the 14th May, 2015, agreed to receive for his benefits the sum of 1,500,000 paid into his UBA Plc Account No. 1005055617 by Esther Agbo , staff of the firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co. account of any favour or disfavour to be afterwards shown to the chambers of Rickey Tara & Co. in relation to cases being handled by the said chambers before you as a Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
“Yunusa, on the 18th March, 2015, while serving as a judge of the Federal High Court received the sum of 750,000 naira into your UBA Plc account No. 1005055617 on account of favour or disfavours in the discharge of your official duties in relation to matters being handled by the said Joseph Nwobike (SAN) before you and thereby committed an offence”.
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