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Tag: no case

  • Alleged perversion of course of justice: Ricky Tarfa makes no-case submission

    Alleged perversion of course of justice: Ricky Tarfa makes no-case submission

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, standing trial over alleged gratification and attempt to pervert the course of justice has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere that he has no case to answer.

    At the resume of proceedings of his trial yesterday before Justice Adedayo Akintoye, Tarfa, through his counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that he has filed a no-case submission.

    Owonikoko said he filed on November 9, to say that the defendant has no case to answer.

    The learned silk stated that the application is supported with an affidavit and a written address and that the prosecution has been duly served.

    He said: “At the last adjourned date, the prosecution closed their case. Upon the view of the prosecution, our response in this case is a no-case submission. That will suffice in this case.”

    Owonikoko, therefore, urged the court to discharge the defendant on the ground that there is no-case to answer.

    “I urge your lordship to discharge the defendant on the view that there is no case to answer.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on October 23 closed its case against the defendant after calling six witnesses, who testified against Rickey Tarfa in a trial, which began in March, 2016.

    EFCC prosecuting counsel Mr. Nnemeka Omewa confirmed the service of the no-case submission application on them by the defence.

    He, however, said they were yet to file a reply.

    “We were served late last Friday with a 54 paragraphs of  a no-case submission. We are still going through them and we have not been able to respond to the no-case submission. We shall be asking for a short adjournment to enable us respond.”

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye adjourned to December 12, for hearing of the application.

    The EFCC had first arraigned Tarfa on March 9, 2016 on a 27-count charge, bordering on offering of gratification to some judges and perversion of the course of justice.

    The anti-graft agency had alleged that Tarfa offered N5.3 million gratification to a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, to “compromise” the judge.

    The agency claimed that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches to the judge between June 27, 2012 and December 23, 2014.

    The commission alleged that the SAN lied about his age and failed to declare his assets to the commission upon his arrest on February 5, 2015.

    The offences contravened Section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    But Tarfa pleaded not guilty.

    He subsequently sought to quash the charges on the premise that they were incompetent.

    Justice Akintoye dismissed his application consequent upon which Tarfa appealed the court’s decision.

    But the upper court, in a ruling, ordered Tarfa back to the High Court for trial in respect of the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

  • No case of Lassa fever in Ogun – says commissioner

    No case of Lassa fever in Ogun – says commissioner

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, says its Diseases Surveillance Officer (DSO), across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas, has been strengthened and on red alert to combat any forms of disease outbreak or epidemic in the state.

    Ipaye made this known while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Abeokuta, on the possible spread of Lassa fever in Ogun as it has been reported in the neighbouring state of Ondo.

    He stressed that there was no case of Lassa fever in Ogun, as the state government had adopted the standard of World Health Organisation (WHO) in following proper standard precautions in hospitals as well as communities and educating the public on the mode of transmission of the virus, and need for proper hygiene and environmental sanisation.

     

  • N500m defamation claim: I have no case to answer, says Metuh

    N500m defamation claim: I have no case to answer, says Metuh

    Fireworks were being thrown yesterday between the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Olisa Metuh.

    Both spokesmen for the ruling and main opposition party are locked in a battle over an alleged defamatory and libelous statement credited to Metuh.

    In a letter written by his counsel, Wahab Shittu on September 22, 2015, titled: “Demand for unreserved apology, retraction and N500 million compensation over defamation of character”, Lai Mohammed  alleged that the PDP spokesperson defamed him in a press release issued on September 20. The APC chieftain said Metuh “willfully and maliciously made false, destructive and defamatory statements,” against him in the following words:

    “Nevertheless, as we restate our commitment in providing issue-based opposition as well as our support for the fight against corruption, our final word for the APC spokesman on this, is that being ethically challenged, includes embezzling funds meant for fencing of an airport in an APC-led Southwest states. It also includes when one fraudulently refuse to supply ambulances after collecting monies from another APC South West State.

    “It is then a comedy of roles when Alhaji Lai Mohammed speaks on corruption, a topic he practices and has well learnt, being a personal aide to one of the most corrupt politicians to ever bestride the political landscape of the country.”

    Mohammed said the statements as published by Metuh are “utterly false and without merit, and they are defamation per se.”  The APC chieftain also said by the publication, Metuh has portrayed him as a fraudster, a man who must not be entrusted with money, a man of dubious character, corrupt and an economic saboteur.”

    He denied that any of his companies had ever been involved in any alleged embezzlement of funds meant for the fencing of any airport or in contract for supplying ambulance for any state government including Southwest states.

    In what could be described as bold demands, Mohammed asked Metuh for a retraction or public apology within seven days and to cease further defamation of his character and reputation. He also demanded for  N500 million  as damages for the “unquantifiable damage done to his reputation and integrity.”

    But in a swift response through his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, (SAN), Metuh said he will not accede to any of the demands made by Mohammed as he never made reference to Mohammed in his press release nor insulted anybody insisting the statement was made in national interest.

    In a letter dated September 25, and signed by Etiaba, Metuh also alleged that Mohammed in his response to the press statement had made “unprovoked vituperations” against him in the following words:

    “ The party said that for the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary himself, the persistent onslaught against the Buhari administration is neither altruistic nor informed by any belief in higher values, because the allegations of corruption hanging on his neck, from within his own party, is a clear indication that he is mortally afraid that the wind will soon blow hard enough to expose the fowl’s rump.

    “May we therefore assure you that our client does not intend to accede to any of your demands”, Emeka wrote in the reply for his client.

     

  • Ekoh: Wolves have no case

    Ekoh: Wolves have no case

    Akwa United media officier Uwen Ekoh has said Warri Wolves should accept the judgment of the O&D (Organising and Disciplinary Committee) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rather than appealing its decision.

    The O&D cleared Akwa United to return to Uyo from Oba for its home league matches and the completion of the week 16 tie against Warri Wolves which the centre referee failed to continue in the second half. He alleged physical assault by the home fans at the Uyo township stadium.

    Revealing this in an interview with SportingLife from Uyo, Ekoh stated that the appeal launched by Warri Wolves to rescind the judgment was a waste of time and could undermind the integrity of members of the O&D.

    “I know they have money to splash around. One would ask, are they appealing for three points and three goals?

    “Are they appealing not to play the remaining 45mins which is a FIFA rule or that the centre referee and match commissioner who abandoned the match should not be punished? Let them (Warri Wolves) judge their conscience as they are appealing.”

    He further alleged that Wolves master-minded what happened at the Uyo Township Stadium.

    ” I know the appeal committee is composed of men of proven integrity, they will not want to dent their image. I am sure justice will continue to prevail.”

    Meanwhile, Akwa have signed four players to beef up their team. The players are Moses Amadi (defender) from Nembe City, Muhammad Abdullahi (midfielder) from Sunshine Stars, Maigamu Moses (attacker) from Kaduna Utd and goalkeeper, Olabisi Adewumi from El-kanemi Warriors.