EFCC Insists Justice Yinusa Collected Bribe Through His Account

The anti-war graft agency said this when confronted with a sworn affidavit deposed to one Mohammed Awal Yinusa who claimed to be the bonafide owner of an Access Bank account which EFCC claimed Justice Yinusa used in collecting bribes from two senior lawyers. He, however, maintained that the judge received the money through his Access Bank account. Justice Yinusa is standing trial before an Ikeja Special for allegedly collecting bribes from former Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike and another Senior Advocate, Rickey Tarfa. The embattled Judge is standing trial alongside Esther Agbor, a staff of Tarfa’a chambers who was accused of paying N1. 5 million into his account. During Wednesday’s proceedings while being cross-examined by Agbor’s counsel, J. O Odubela SAN, Moses Awolusi an EFCC investigator was shown the sworn affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Awal Yinusa. In the affidavit, Yinusa (the owner of the account) said he is a legal practitioner who was called to bar in 2010. The deponent also averred that he was employed as a counsel in Rickey Tarfa’a chambers. He further stated that he got admission to further his career at Abu Bayero University and he notified the chamber where he works. Specifically, the deponent averred that on the 7th of January he supplied his employers with his Access Bank account where the sum of N225,000 was paid in order for him to use it to augment his expenses for the LLM course. The deponent further attached his statement of account and his account opening mandate bearing his passport photograph was attached to the sworn affidavit Awolusi admitted that the affidavit was sent to the EFCC but maintained that the account belonged to Justice Yinusa. “My Lord Justice Yinusa admitted during the investigation that he collected the said sum from the Chambers of Rickey Tarfa for his father’s burial. ” Even the learned Senior Advocate (pointing to Odubela) who works for Rickey Tarfa’s Chambers admitted that they indeed paid the said sum into Justice Yinusa’s account. “Mr. Odubela deposed to that affidavit and admitted that they paid the money into the Judge’s account. “ “I know for a fact that N225,000 was paid into Yinusa’s account and Yinusa replied via a text message saying, ” thank you my learned SAN.” Awolusi also maintained that during investigation, that the account mandate was obtained, but however declined to say whose name was on it. Odubela went on further to ask Awolusi if he was aware that Justice Adebiyi of the Ikeja High Court in her judgement in April 2018 in the case of EFCC vs Joseph Nwobike had ruled that EFCC failed to prove that Nwobike bribed Yinusa with N750, 000. To which Awolusi said he was not aware. At the last adjourned date, the court had subpoenaed EFCC to furnish the court with the Certified True Copies of the investigation report for the 24th of February and the 22nd of June 2016. But Awolusi at Wednesday’s proceedings brought reports for March 2016. EFCC prosecutor, Wahab Shittu told the court that Subpoena was served on the Commission very late, adding that what was tendered was all they could lay their hands on. The presiding Judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo ordered that the certified true copies shoukd be made available or the trial would be stalled at the next adjourned date The matter was thereafter adjourned till December 10 for continuation of trial.]]>