Admin l Tuesday, July 04, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today told the court that Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN perverted justice in cases involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Skye Bank Plc and others.
EFCC prosecutor Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, in a cross examination session also claimed that Nwobike engaged in sending illegal text messages to four registrars of the Federal High Court in a bid to unduly influence his cases being tried by the judges.
The counsel for EFCC also informed the court that Dr. Nwobike sent text messages to a Deputy registrar of the Federal High Court, one Mr. Jide, to influence assignment of his cases to his preferred judges.
“You sent this text to one Mr. Jide of the Federal High Court, the text reads: ours should go to Justice Yinusa or Justice Aneke”. The ‘ours’ in the text message was it a case that you filed?” Mr. Oyedepo asked, to which Dr. Nwobike simply responded to saying; “I can’t say.”
Oyedepo also claimed that the suit Nwobike allegedly tried to influence was between AMCON vs Delta Steel Company Ltd with suit no FHC/L/CS/127/2015.
To further prove the allegation, Mr Oyedepo said; “At 12.59pm on Sep. 4, 2015, you forwarded the suit details of First Bank V O.P.I International Ltd, you mentioned that the suits should be assigned to Justice Buba. As at Sep. 4, 2015 when you sent that text message, the matter was not yet assigned to any judge”.
“On Nov. 27, 2015, at 10.46am, you sent a text message to Mr Jide giving details of Godwin Ewekolu V Inspector General of Police. When the text was forwarded, Justice Kurya was a judge of the Federal High Court and you impressed it on Jide that it was very urgent that the case be assigned to him”
Mr. Oyedepo also said in the suit between Skye Bank Plc and Brokeyard Marine Oil and Gas Services Ltd, the embattled lawyer forwarded the suit details to Mr Jide when the aid oil company was under the investigation of the commission. Dr. Nwobike denied, saying the messages were “confirmation text messages”.
“On whether I knew that Brokeyard Marine Oil and Gas Services were under investigation by the EFCC, I don’t know because I don’t work for the EFCC,” he added.
The prosecution accused the senior advocate of obstructing the prosecution of one Dr. Femi Thomas, a client of Nwobike who was allegedly caught at the Muritala International Airport with $200million dollars.
EFCC lawyer said; “on Nov. 11, 2015 you sent a message to Mr Jide of the Federal High Court about a criminal charge filed against your client Dr Femi Thomas asking that it should be assigned to Justice Seidu. This suit was suit was eventually assigned to Justice Seidu and as at 1.23pm on the day you sent the text, this matter was not assigned to any judge.
“Are you aware as a SAN that it is an offence not to declare an amount exceeding $10,000, are you aware that the amount your client travelling with was $200million” to which the senior lawyer said he was not aware if such was a crime.
“You received and read a text from Mr Baruwa saying ‘Thank you Sir, Kelani gave me your special package. On June 3, 2015 at 10.10am, you received a text from Mr Baruwa saying ‘Good morning Sir, I just got a golden handshake from Mr Felix Sir. Exhibit D2 is a statement of account from your law chambers, on Jan. 17, 2011 you transferred N50,000 to Mr Baruwa,” Mr. Oyedepo said.
He said; “On Nov. 9, 2015, you received and read a message from Mr Baruwa of the Federal High Court forwarding the details of a case between Mrs Beauty Akpobolokemi and the EFCC. The text informed you that the case has been assigned to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and you filed a suit against the EFCC”. He accused the lawyer of filing the suit against the EFCC in the middle of an EFCC investigation of Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi.
“Prior to Nov. 9, 2015, you forwarded a text to Mr Jide where the name of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was mentioned. At 8.50am on that day, you sent a text to Mr Baruwa saying ‘Okay please take the file there now. At 5.32pm, you forwarded the particulars of the case to Jide and this matter was eventually assigned to Justice Ajumogobia” Mr. Oyedepo said.
“I don’t know when the case of Beauty Akpobolokemi V the EFCC was assigned, it’s not correct that I sent some names to Baruwa to monitor in case the EFCC files some charges,” Nwobike responded.
“In a desperate bid to prevent the EFCC from continuing the investigation, you instituted a fundamental rights action (exhibit P23). You forwarded details of this suit in a text to Mr Jide and in the usual manner, you mentioned Justice Yinusa to handle the case. Upon instituting this suit, the EFCC appeared before Justice Yinusa and the matter was resolved by his Lordship” the prosecution claimed.
The prosecution also strived to prove, through a number of questions, that Dr. Nwobike influenced assigning of his cases to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, who is currently answering charges of unlawful enrichment at the same court but before Justice Hakeem Oshodi was indicted in the course of the cross examination.
He was accused of interfering in a case involving Mrs. Beauty Akpobolokemi, the wife of Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), standing trial over alleged fraud.
Nwobike, however, denied all the allegations.
Dr. Nwobike denied ever engaging the clerk in such manner. To further proved the charges, Mr. Oyedepo showed the court via a projector exchange of SMS between the said Mr. Baruwa and Dr. Nwobike. One of the messages sent by Mr. Baruwa, he acknowledged receiving the “golden hand shake” of the lawyer and prayed for “more grease on his elbow”.
Nwobike is being tried by the EFCC on an 11-count charge bordering on perverting the course of justice and offering gratification to public officials. Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case to 10.30am on July 12 for continuation of trial.
