The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Joseph Nwobike

  • Court convicts Nwobike for perversion of justice

    … Lawyer appeals judgment

    Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja on Monday convicted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Nwobike,  for perversion of justice.

    The judge gave the verdict while delivering judgment in the criminal charge filed against the lawyer by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Nwobike was convicted in  12 out of the 13-count charge.

    Each count carries a jail term of two years.

    However, the judge sentenced the lawyer to 30 days imprisonment on the charges.

    According to Justice Adebiyi, the court considered the fact that Nwobike has  no previous criminal record, his comportment in court and other factors before reducing the prescribed two years jail term to 30 days.

    She said the lawyer’s conviction would send serious signal about government’s determination to fight corruption.

    Meanwhile, Nwobike has appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal in Lagos.

    In a notice of appeal which was immediately filed by Nwobike’s lawyer, Wale Akoni (SAN), Nwobike contended that the allegation of attempt to pervert justice was not proved by the EFCC.

    He insisted that the judgment was unreasonable and unwarranted.

     

     

     

     

  • Ex-president Jonathan directed how NIMASA funds were spent – Akpobolokemi

    Ex-president Jonathan directed how NIMASA funds were spent – Akpobolokemi

    A former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi yesterday denied looting the agency’s funds.

    Testifying before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos after opening his defence, Akpobolokemi said all the actions he took in office had the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan. 

    He denied looting N2.3billion from the agency, which was approved for a project by the former President.

    According to him, Dr Jonathan approved the release of N2.3billion for NIMASA in three tranches between 2013 and 2015.

    He said it was for the implementation of a maritime security project, International Shipping and Ports Security (ISPS) code.

    He said the funds were released after he wrote three times to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser headed by Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

    Led in evidence by his lawyer, Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Akpobolokemi said the ISPS code implementation followed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the United States of America.

    He said the security code was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which requested member states to implement it to forestall similar terrorist attacks.

    He said the funds were approved by the President and released to NIMASA through ONSA, following which he constituted the ISPS Code Implementation Committee.

    He said the committee opened an account, into which funds for the project were released, adding that he was neither a member nor a signatory to the account.

    Akpobolokemi said the committee was headed by former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Department, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba.

    He said as soon as the funds were disbursed to NIMASA, he minuted letters to Agaba to carry the Presidency’s directives.

    “The directive was from the Presidency and I would have been appropriately sanctioned if I ignored the directive,” he said.

    He denied the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) that the funds were diverted, adding that the project was implemented with the funds, with foreigners commending NIMASA.

    “I was satisfied that the ISPS Code project was well performed at least up till the time I left the agency,” Akpobolokemi said.

    Akpobolokemi was charged along with Ababa, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Blockz and Stonz Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistics Limited.

    They all pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.

    Justice Buba adjourned till February 13.

  • Justice Agbadu-fishim arraigned over alleged N4.4m gratification

    Justice Agbadu-fishim arraigned over alleged N4.4m gratification

    Justice James Agbadu-fishim of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division, was on Tuesday hauled up before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of an Ikeja High Court over alleged N4.4 million gratification.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Agbadu-fishim for allegedly receiving N4.4million from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), a lawyer and a law firm from 2013 to 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seven SANs accused of unlawfully enriching the judge are — Felix Fagbohungbe, Paul Usoro, Uche Obi, Muiz Banire, Adeniyi Akintola Gani Adetola Kazeem and Joseph Nwobike.

    The prosecution alleged in the 19-count charge of unlawful enrichment that the judge received funds from a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Enobong Etteh and Alliance Law Firm.

    According to the EFCC, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) deposited N200,000 on Dec. 5, 2013, N700,000 between May 10 and Dec. 19, 2014, N250,000 on Feb. 26, 2015 and N250,000 also on Feb. 26, 205 into the First Bank Account with no. 3008199491 belonging to Agbadu-fishim.

    The anti-graft agency alleges, that Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) between Aug. 5 and Dec. 12, 2015 deposited N300,000, between March 25 and March 26, deposited N400,000 and N100,000 into the First Bank Account of the judge with no. 3008199491.

    The law firm of Gani Adetola Kazeem (SAN), paid N100,000 on Feb. 10, 2015 and Mr Uche Obi (SAN) between Oct. 17 and Oct. 20, 2013 paid N200,000, Alliance Law Firm deposited N250,000 into the First Bank Account of the judge with number- 3008199491.

    A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Enobong Etteh, paid the sum of N200,000 on two occasions into the First Bank Account of the judge with number – 3008199491 on Oct. 27, 2014.

    The EFCC told the court that Mr Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), deposited N200,000 on July 12, 2014, N100,000 on Feb. 10, 2014, N100,000 on Feb. 26, 2015 and also N100,000 on Feb. 26, 2015 into the First Bank Account of the judge with number – 2006900216.

    The EFCC claimed that Agbadu-fishim received N150,000 on Dec. 12, 2014 and N100,000 on Sep. 10, 2015 from Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) into his First Bank Account with number – 2006900216.

    Agbadu-fishim, however, denied the 19-count charge.

    After the judge’s plea was taken, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC requested for a trial date.

    Prof. A. Amuda (SAN), counsel to Agbadu-fishim, asked the court to grant the judge bail.

    “I will ask My Lord for your leave to apply for the bail of the defendant.

    “Pursuant to the case of Abiola VFRB, we are saying this with all sense of respect the defendant being a judge of the National Industrial Court was just served yesterday at 5pm with this charge.

    “It was at this time that he got the charge that I couldn’t get a flight to Lagos from Port – Harcourt and I had to travel overnight to Lagos to represent my client.

    “I pray that the court grants bail to the defendant on self recognisance, he is a judge of the National Industrial Court and he has started sitting.

    “My Lord we pleas that your Lordship grants the defendant bail.”

    Responding, Oyedepo told the court that he would not be opposing the bail of the judge.

    “I leave the issue of bail to the discretion of your Lordship, I ask that your Lordship secure the bail terms that will ensure the attendance in court of the defendant,” he said.

    In her ruling, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi said: “In Abacha V State, the main function of the nail is to ensure the attendance of the defendant.

    “In considering bail, the court must consider the nature of the offence charged.

    “No facts have been placed before the court to indicate that the defendant will skip bail.

    “The court hereby grants the defendant bail on self recognisance, he is to deposit his international passport with the Chief Registrar of the court,” she said.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case until Oct. 11, Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 for trial.

    NAN recalls that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had on June 2 recalled Agbadu-fishim and five other judges from suspension.

    A total of eight judges were suspended in November 2016 following a raid on their homes by the Department of State Security (DSS).

    They include, Agbadu-fishim of the NIC, John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Uwani Aji of the Court of Appeal and Hydiazira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court.

    Others are Musa H. Kurya of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court.

    All the judges except Ngwuta and Ofili-Ajumogobia who are both currently facing corruption trial were recalled by the NJC.

    The NJC had said that the reason for their recall was the huge backlog of cases in their courts.

    The judicial body noted that only Ademola, Ngwuta and Ofili-Ajumogobia had been charged to court, emphasising that Ademola had been discharged and acquitted of the charges filed against him. (NAN)
    MAE/ENN/DA

  • Absence of EFCC counsel stalls corruption trial of senior advocate

    Absence of EFCC counsel stalls corruption trial of senior advocate

    The absence of  the  EFCC  prosecution   team in  court  on Friday  stalled the corruption trial of Dr Joseph Nwobike before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

    Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , is being tried by the EFCC for allegedly perverting the course of justice.

    He was also accused  of offering gratification to public officials,  including  court registrars and judges of the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court.

    At the last hearing  on March 28, the defence team led by Mr Olawale Akoni (SAN)  had argued  that the EFCC did not carry out  a thorough investigation  of  the allegations before charging  Nwobike  to court.

    But at the resumed hearing  on Friday, the EFCC  prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo,  and his team were absent in court.

    When the case was announced from the cause list, Miss Zainab Ettu, an  EFCC lawyer who was in the courtroom for a different trial, could not explain  her colleagues’  absence.

    “My Lord, I am here for another trial, I don’t know why Mr Oyedepo is not in court for this trial,” she said.

    Akoni, however, registered his displeasure about the development.

    “I am quite surprised by the absence of the prosecution;  he should have at least informed the court if he had some other engagements.

    “ There is apparently no reason for their absence, they should show some respect to  the court.

    “We have been on this matter since April 21, 2016;  the prosecution should come to court and prove its case against the defendant so that the defendant can defend himself.

    “I will be seeking your Lordship’s direction on at least imposing a time frame for all the parties in this case.

    “We have another court date on May 18, we will be praying for your Lordship to give us an additional date,” Akoni said.

    Adebiyi,  while responding to Akoni’s submission,  noted that the court would  not be sitting on May 18 because she had other official duties.

    “It is unfortunate that the prosecution did not show up in court, I will be attending a special court session on May 18.

    “The previously adjourned date of May 18 is hereby vacated and the case adjourned to May 23, June 5 and June  6,” she said.

    The judge instructed  Ettu  to inform her absent colleagues  of the adjourned dates.

    “Miss Zainab Ettu of the EFCC, who is in court for another matter,  is to inform Rotimi Oyedepo of the adjourned dates,” Adebiyi said.

  • University staff diverted N11b for Akpobolokemi – Witness

    University staff diverted N11b for Akpobolokemi – Witness

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere, on Thursday heard how the sum of N11, 316,295,549.29 was allegedly diverted from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) into accounts operated by a staff of Niger Delta University (NDU), John Simon Adomene.

    Adomene was named in the testimony of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Orji Chukwuma, before Justice Raliat Adebiyi.

    Chukwuma, an operative of the EFCC, told the court that Adomene laundered the money on behalf of an ex -Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

    He testified as the third prosecution witness in the trial of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike.

    Nwobike is facing a five-count charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice and offering gratification to a public official, a charge he denied.

    Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Chukwuma said in 2015, the commission received intelligence on “a monumental fraud perpetrated in NIMASA.”

    “In the course of the investigation, it was revealed that one John Simon Adomene, a staff of Niger Delta University was used by the DG of NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, to perpetrate this fraud.

    “Subsequently, efforts were made to trace accounts linked to John Adomene and companies linked with him,” he said.

    He listed the companies to include Wabod, Global Resources Limited, Gokiad Marine Services and Boloberi Properties and Estate Limited.

    “We traced billions of naira in accounts and properties to these companies which were merely fronts for Dr. Akpobolokemi,” Chukwuma alleged.