The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Joseph Jibueze

  • Tarfa explains relationship with judge

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Rickey Tarfa has denied bribing a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, with N5.3million.
    He said he read about the allegation in the media and has not been served with a fresh charge.
    Explaining his relationship with the judge, Tarfa said before being appointed to the Bench, Justice Nganjiwa was absorbed into his firm in 1995 immediately after leaving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where he rose to the position of Deputy Director (Prosecution).
    Tarfa said Nganjiwa was with his law firm until he was appointed to the Federal High Court in 2012.
    The senior advocate, in a statement  by his Head of Chamber, Mr. John Odubela, said Nganjiwa, who specialised in criminal law, attracted many briefs/clients because of his expertise.
    Tarfa said upon his appointment as a judge, the law firm continued with the cases he brought to the chambers.
    “In the light of the above, we have continued to discharge the firm’s financial obligations to him in respect of cases he has handled for the firm as a practicing legal practitioner in our law firm and those he brought to the chambers,” the statement said.
    Tarfa accused the EFCC of persecution, describing 27 count charge filed against him as ridiculous.
    “We have cause to once more react to the malicious trial by media of our Rickey Tarfa (SAN) by the EFCC. Trials are never won on the pages of newspapers, the airwaves and on online platforms.
    “The recent 27 count charge allegedly filed against Tarfa by EFCC is not only laughable because as at the time of issuing this press statement, Tarfa is yet to be served with the charge. The media is, however, awash with ‘details’ of the said charge.”
    On the allegation of the falsification of age, the statement said Tarfa always marked his birthdays publicly and has no reason to lie about his age.
    “For the umpteenth time, we as a law firm, assure all our clients and members of the public that we are law abiding and would never be involved in any act in contravention of the law of the country.
    “We restate that we appreciate the goodwill, support from colleagues, friends, clients and lovers of human rights, through calls, text messages and personal visits since this persecution commenced and pledge that the 28 year old firm of RickeyTarfa& Co. will continue to practice its trade in the best traditions of the bar.”
  • Court bars AGF, NDLEA from seizing Kashamu’s properties

    Court bars AGF, NDLEA from seizing Kashamu’s properties

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday restrained the Federal Government from seizing Senator Buruji Kashamu’s properties over drug trafficking allegations.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba held that it would amount to abuse of powers for the respondents to infringe on Kashamu’s property rights without following due process.

    The judge, therefore, barred the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Drug Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from violating the senator’s rights to own property.

    Kashamu sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining NDLEA and the AGF from taking possession of his assets.

    The Senator said he learnt of moves by agents of the Federal Government to seize his properties, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.

    According to him, he acquired the properties, which he said worth N20billion, by dint of hard work and through his legitimate business.

    He said contrary to NDLEA’s alleged claim, the properties were not proceeds of drug trafficking.

    The Senator said his right to own property as guaranteed by sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution would be breached if the respondents were not perpetually restrained.

    Ruling in his favour, Justice Buba held that since previous judgments stopping Kashamu’s extradition had not been discharged or vacated, the prosecution could not take steps against him when the restraining orders were still subsisting.

    He said the prosecution was bound to obey the orders until set aside by the Court of Appeal.

    “The judgments of this court are binding on the parties and on this court until set aside on appeal,” he held.

    Justice Buba said the Federal Government cannot seize Kashamu’s assets on the basis of the same allegations that had been decided upon by the court “whether rightly or wrongly.”

     

  • Audu buried amidst resurrection rumours 

    Audu buried amidst resurrection rumours 

    The remains of Prince Abubakar Audu have been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

    There were rumours that he had risen, but his burial dashes the speculation.

    His remains were buried at about 2pm as Imams offered prayers.

    Before the burial, heavy security was deployed at Audu’s compound as the crowd insisted he was alive.

    Former governors George Akume, Abdulkadir Kure, Lucky Igbinidion and Rabiu Kwankwaso attended the interment.

    There was wild jubilation over rumours that Audu had resurrected, but no one confirmed seeing him.

    Thousands trooped into his home in Ogbonicha as rumours of a revival spread. A mammoth crowd besieged the residence.

    Reports said a prophet sought to pray for Audu’s corpse to bring him back to life.

    Security inside and family members would have none of it but angry youth broke the door open, according to Premium Times.

    ‎The prayer man was successfully taken in as the crowd joined in fervent prayers.

    Shouts of Holy Ghost fire and Allahu Akbar rent the air while others wept loudly by the door.

    ‎As men and women of faith engage in fervent prayers to bring Audu back to life others were digging his grave in one end of the compound.

    ‎As news filtered in that he had risen, grave diggers got discouraged and slowed down work.

    The grave diggers re-doubled work until the rumours were dashed with the burial.

    [news_in_pics style=”2″ display=”tag” tag=”Audu” count=”8″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Buhari sued over AMCON board

    Buhari sued over AMCON board

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari over for appointing the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) board without recourse to the Senate.
    He said the appointments, made on August 19, was in clear violation of the relevant statute setting up the agency.
    He referred to Section 10(1) (C) of the AMCON Act 2010 which provides that the board, consisting of three executive directors nominated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in consultation with the Minister of Finance, must be appointed subject to Senate confirmation.
    Adegboruwa is seeking a declaration that the President cannot appoint anyone as Executive Director of AMCON without complying with Section 10(1)C of the AMCON Act 2010.
    He prays the court to hold that the appointments, having been made without complying with the Section, is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
    The lawyer is asking for an order “nullifying, annulling, voiding, cancelling and invalidating the appointment of the Executive Directors of AMCON by the President.”
    Adegboruwa is also seeking to obtain an order of perpetual injunction restraining the persons purportedly appointed by the President from functioning or further parading themselves as AMCON’s Executive Directors.
    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”AMCON” count=”2″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]