The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Yunusa

  • Alleged bribery: Court approves Rickey Tarfa’s medical trip

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Monday ratified the foreign medical trip of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Rickey Tarfa, accused of perversion of the course of justice.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the

    Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa.

    He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on March 9, 2016.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    At the resumption of trial on Monday, Tarfa was absent.

    His counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko told Justice Akintoye that his client had traveled abroad for medical treatment.

    Read Also: Alleged bribery: Court summons Rickey Tarfa’s witnesses

    He said Tarfa’s condition “was so bad that he had to travel for surgical operations.”

    Tarfa will be away for three months, Owonikoko added.

    EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed to the court that he received a medical report and a letter from the defendant requesting for vacation of Monday’s trial date.

    Oyedepo, however, wondered why the defendant didn’t seek leave of court before embarking on the trip.

    Justice Akintoye advised the defence to ensure that the Tarfa is in court on the next adjourned date.

    She said: “I am giving the defendant the benefit of doubt based on the application before the court, he should be in court on the next adjourned date.”

    The court adjourned till March 11 for continuation of trial.

    In the charge before the court, the EFCC alleged that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying N800,000 into Justice Yunusa’s account in three tranches between February 9 and November 30, 2015.

    The SAN was also accused of age falsification.

    Upon his arraignment on March 9, 2016 and subsequent re-arraignment on November 16, 2016, Tarfa pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

    The EFCC has since closed its case, during which it noted that Tarfa entered his defence after the court dismissed his no-case submission he filed.

    Tarfa’s first witness, Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, is yet to finish his cross-examination.

  • Labour to Buhari: Give us implementable economic blueprint

    The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies on Monday told the Buhari government to take steps to advance what it described implementable economic blueprint for the country in other to get it out of the wood.

    The union said while government efforts towards revamping the economy must be commended, it was unfortunate that all government institutions charged with the responsibility of the nation’s economy are busy working at cross purpose and trading blames.

    President General of the Union, Comrade Mohammed Yunusa told newsmen government must rise up to its responsibility, saying the government must know that Nigerians who voted for change are currently wallowing in unprecedented poverty.

    While hailing government decision to concession the Nigeria Railway Corporation to ensure effective and efficient service delivery, Yunusa said that the union will only support such concession if it will guarantee the safety of workers in the corporation.

    He said “The economy is down and revamping it requires deliberate efforts powered by wise men. The country needs an implementable economic blueprint. We must get out of this avoidable recession fast.

    “SSASCGOC appreciate the efforts of the federal government in this direction, but more effort and sincerity must be made fast. All institutions charged with economic activities must work in synergy and stop talking from different sides of their lips and blame trading.

    “Nigerians are in the state of quagmire, walking in the dark as if we are blind with no destination. There must be light and the government has the responsibility similitude to make this happen. The government must know that Nigerians who voted for change are wallowing in unprecedented poverty and government must do al, within its power to quickly revive the ailing economy.

    “SSASCGOC is not averse to the change mantra of the present administration particularly in its effort to bring back the rail networks in Nigeria to its list glory. But we will resist any form of reform aimed at discrediting and sending staff if NRC into the Labour market, under whatever guise, be it concession, franchising of public private partnership.

    “We have learnt our lesson from NITEL experience and never shall we allow such again. As an association with over 20,000 membership base, we shall resist with all our might any concession arrangement that leads to job loss be it in the Nigeria Railway Corporation or any other public corporation in Nigeria.

    “Government has business in business especially when it is social oriented in nature and therefore, government should sit with the union and its allies so that we can Jointly come up with workable solutions for the rail to roll into glory. It is imperative that  concession process that us shredded in secrecy and that relegates workers Representatives to the background shall be outrightly resisted.

    The union condemned the what it described as unprecedented killings and Watson destruction of lives and property across the country, pointing out that in the beginning, it was believed to be herdsmen/farmers clash,p which has metamorphosed into an insurgency movement.

    Yunusa also expressed concern over the recent invasion of the hallowed chamber of the senate by political thugs, adding that never in the history if the country has the nation felt so unsecured than now, saying “if the political class is unsafe, what is the hope of the common man in the street”.

  • Court adjourns trial of Justice Yunusa till March 9

    Court adjourns trial of Justice Yunusa till March 9

    The Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday adjourned the trial of a Federal High Court judge, Mohammed Yunusa, charged with corruption, until March 9.

    The court took the decision following a request by the defence for an adjournment to reply an affidavit by the prosecution.

    Yunusa’s lawyer, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), had asked the court for an adjournment to respond to a counter-affidavit filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    Clarke in his submission said “The prosecution yesterday (Monday) served us with a so- called counter-affidavit and written address, we have not had the opportunity to respond.

    “On the face of what was served on us, we do not see the necessity for a counter-affidavit since we did not file an affidavit.

    “In the circumstance, we need time to give a reply to close all facts before Your lordship.

    “We seek to ask for an adjournment which has been foisted on us by the prosecution in order to close all facts placed before us by the prosecution.”

    Mr John Odubela (SAN), defence counsel for Esther Agbo, Yunusa’s co-defendant, agreed with Clarke’s request for an adjournment.

    “We have filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Feb. 13 and we served on the prosecution on Feb. 14 and the prosecution served us a response yesterday at 5.08p.m.

    “We were able to file our reply on points of law this morning; though we are ready, it is still subject to the first defendant’s preliminary objection.

    “We do not have an objection to the adjournment because out of the five-count charge the first defendant has four-counts,” he said.

    Mr Wahab Shittu, the EFCC counsel, however, objected to the requests by the defence, noting that the anti-graft agency was ready to proceed with the trial.

    “Your lordship adjourned till today for hearing as arraignment has been done and in adjourning Your lordship made specific orders for both the prosecution and defence to do.

    “We have filed all our processes as ordered by your lordship and there are two witnesses in court which are ready to proceed.

    “We have also filed all the necessary documents to ensure that this trial goes on its merits,” Shittu said.

    Acceding to the defence counsel’s requests, Justice Sherifat Solebo said:  “This case is adjourned till March 9 at 9.30a.m. to take all the arguments on the two pending preliminary objections.”

    Earlier, Shittu had in an application dated Feb. 9, sought for the change of EFCC prosecuting counsel from Mr A.B.C Ozioko to himself.

    The defence in an objection, noted that the application did not have a counsel’s seal which was not in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Rules of Professional Conduct.

    Shittu, however, told the court that the payment for the seal had been done on May 24, 2017 but the necessary seal had yet to be issued by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Solebo then ruled in favour of EFCC.

    “It is unfair to visit the sin of the NBA on the counsel,” she said.

    EFCC had arraigned Yunusa, a judge of Lagos Division of Federal High Court, alongside Esther Agbo, a staff member of  the law chambers of Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN), on Jan. 17.

    Yunusa was charged on four counts of attempted perversion of the course of justice and corruption by a public official, while Agbo was charged with offering gratification to a public official.

    They, however, denied the charges.

    According  to Mr A.B.C Ozioko, the then EFCC prosecutor, Yunusa had constant and confidential communications with Tarfa, who was handling three lawsuits marked FHC/L/CS/714/2015, FHC/L/CS/715/2015 and FHC/L/CS/716/2015 before him.

    The prosecution alleged that Yunusa collected N1.5 million bribe from Tarfa for the purpose of giving favourable rulings and judgments in the cases.

    The judge is also being accused of receiving N750, 000 from Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), between March 2015 and September, 2015, to get “favourable” judgment  in cases.

    The EFCC alleged that Agbo, the second defendant who is an employee of Rickey Tarfa and Co., on May 14, 2015 paid the N1.5 million allegedly from Tarfa into Yunusa’s UBA account number 1005055617.

    The prosecutor said the offences violated Sections 64(1)(a) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    NAN

  • Court remands suspected pipeline vandals

    Court remands suspected pipeline vandals

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded in Ikoyi Prisons four men charged with vandalism and unlawful dealing in petroleum products.

    The accused are: Andrew Ishola, 35; Sunkanmi Aro, 27; Utuedor Michael, 27, and Oladele Agbo, 35.

    The quartet, who are standing trial on a three-count charge, pleaded not guilty.

    Following an application by their counsel, Mr McAnthony Akhariale, Yunusa granted them N1 million bail each, with two sureties in the like sum.

    He ordered them remanded in prison pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

    He adjourned the case till January 19.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Raymond Akhane, told the court that the accused conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline and illegally deal in petroleum products.

    He said they were arrested by policemen in the Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos, following a tip-off.

    According to the prosecutor, the accused tampered with the free flow of the refined petroleum products through an oil pipeline in the locality and sold the products illegally.

    Ahkane said the offence contravened Sections 3(1), 5 and 7 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004. (NAN).

  • Court affirms orders in Sterling Bank, Dana case

    Court affirms orders in Sterling Bank, Dana case

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed applications by Dana Impex Limited, a member of Dana Group, seeking to strike out a suit filed against it by Sterling Bank Plc.

    The firm prayed Justice Yunusa to strike out the suit or extend the time within which it can respond to his interim orders.

    The suit is over the N1.7billion Dana Impex allegedly owes Sterling Bank.

    Justice Yunusa held that the application did not lay a proper foundation for the striking out of the action.

    He said the temporary orders he made are still in force. “The interim orders still subsist,” the judge said.

    Justice Yunusa granted Sterling Bank’s Receiver/Manager, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN) leave to “take over and preserve” the company’s mortgaged property at Plot C, Block 11, Ilupeju Industrial Estate, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

    The judge, among others, restrained the company or its agents from withdrawing or tampering with funds in any of its accounts “under whatever name or guise in any bank or financial institution in Nigeria.”

    He also reinforced the order he made against Dana Drugs Limited in a sister case before him, also filed by Sterling Bank.

    In the June 9 order, Justice Yunusa granted an interim injunction restraining Dana Drugs or its directors from tampering with its funds in any bank or financial institution, pending the determination of the application for the appointment of a provisional liquidator.

    The court also directed banks keeping Dana Impex’s money to furnish Sterling Bank or its lawyer details of the outstanding credit in the account.

    Sterling Bank said it granted Dana Drugs a N200 million overdraft Dana Impex a N1.5billion loan.

    It said the company, after the tenor, “could not liquidate the overdraft facility.”

    The bank said Dana Impex guaranteed the facility granted Dana Drugs through a tripartite legal mortgage.

    But the companies denied owing the bank, saying part of the facility had been repaid.