A Lagos High Court Sitting in the Ikeja area has
convicted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike on charges of
attempting to pervert the course of justice.
convicted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike on charges of
attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Justice Raliat Adebiyi, who delivered the verdict on Monday also sentenced the Senior Advocate to a jail term of one month.
The
court held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission proved
beyond reasonable doubts that the SAN was in constant communication with
some court officials to influence the assignment of his cases to
preferred judges.
court held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission proved
beyond reasonable doubts that the SAN was in constant communication with
some court officials to influence the assignment of his cases to
preferred judges.
The
EFCC had alleged that Nwobike offered N750,000 and N300,000
gratifications to Justices Mohammed Yunusa and Hyeladzira Nganjiwa. Both
are Federal High Court judges.
EFCC had alleged that Nwobike offered N750,000 and N300,000
gratifications to Justices Mohammed Yunusa and Hyeladzira Nganjiwa. Both
are Federal High Court judges.
The EFCC claimed that Nwobike offered them the money to pervert the course of justice. The SAN denied these charges.
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The court also did not find him guilty on any offence of offering gratification to a judicial officer.
The
EFCC had also detailed in court an exchange of text messages between a
deputy registrar of the Federal High Court and Mr Nwobike. The
commission alleges that the SAN used the msgs to influence the
assignment of his cases before certain judges of the court.
EFCC had also detailed in court an exchange of text messages between a
deputy registrar of the Federal High Court and Mr Nwobike. The
commission alleges that the SAN used the msgs to influence the
assignment of his cases before certain judges of the court.
In its
amended charges, the Commission specifically listed Mrs Helen Ogunleye,
a former registrar to Justice Musa Kurya and another Mr Jide, an
assistant Chief Registar as persons whom the Snr Advocate regularly
communicated with.
amended charges, the Commission specifically listed Mrs Helen Ogunleye,
a former registrar to Justice Musa Kurya and another Mr Jide, an
assistant Chief Registar as persons whom the Snr Advocate regularly
communicated with.
At his trial, Mr Nwobike admitted sending the messages but denied that the intention was to influence the outcome of his cases. (ChannelsTV)
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