SHOCKING: Rickey Tarfa bribed Justice Yunusa with N225, 000; habitually manipulates judges

SHOCKING: Rickey Tarfa bribed Justice Yunusa with N225, 000; habitually manipulates judges – EFCC

February 18, 2016Premium Times

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has accused Rickey Tarfa, a senior Nigerian lawyer, of having a long history of manipulating courts and improperly communicating with judges.

The EFCC had, on Tuesday, arraigned Mr. Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, before a Lagos State High Court on a two-count charge of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr. Tarfa had fought back, dragging the anti-graft agency before a court to enforce his fundamental rights.‎

‎‎According to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, in one of the allegations, Mr. Tarfa made phone contacts with Justice Mohammed Yunusa in a case before the judge.

The commission provided phone numbers of Mr. Tarfa, the judge, and bank documents detailing money transfer from the lawyer to Justice Yunusa.

‎”Based on intelligence report available to the Commission that the Applicant in a desperate bid to pervert the cause of justice in earlier proceedings involving the suspects on the subject matter was using his GSM ….. to communicate with Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa in a case before His Lordship, the 1st Respondent requested the Applicant upon his arrest to respond to the allegation and surrender his mobile Apple I-Phone 6, colour black with MTN No. …..,” the EFCC stated in a counter affidavit deposed to by Moses Awolusi, an EFCC investigator.

‎‎”That based on investigations and data analysis of the Applicant’s mobile phones startling revelations about secret, unhealthy communications between the Applicant and judicial officers emerged.

‎”That investigations revealed that whilst Suits Nos. FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rana Prestige Industries Nigeria (owned by the suspects) and EFCC and FHC/L/CS/716 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria and EFCC were pending before His Lordship Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial Division were ongoing, the Applicant and Honourable Justice Yunusa of the Federal High Court were in constant communication outside the court through their mobile phone numbers i.e. GSM 080xxxxxx belonging to Justice Yunusa and GSM 080xxxxx belonging to the Applicant Rickey Tarfa SAN respectively.

“Now shown to me is the call/message logs marked Exhibit ‘E’ revealing communication between the Applicant and Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa during the pendency of the said proceedings.

“That I am aware that a petition regarding this unethical practice between the Applicant and Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa is already pending against Justice M. N. Yunusa before the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa has been asked to respond to same by the NJC.”

‎The EFCC had accused Mr. Tarfa of wilfully obstructing two of its officers from arresting Gnanhooue Sourou and Nazaire Odeste, the owners of Rana Prestige Industries.

According to the Commission, the senior lawyer had blocked the operatives’ attempt to arrest the two suspects, accused of committing financial crimes, by keeping them in his car for hours.‎

‎The commission noted that the arrest of the suspects was based on reasonable grounds that Mr. Tarfa obstructed the operatives of the EFCC from performing their statutory duties on 5th February 2016 between the hours of 12noon and 5pm when he “willfully locked up in his Black Mercedes Jeep with Registration No. KJA 700 CG Lagos suspects wanted for economic and financial crimes in circumstances explained above.”

The EFCC also stated that from its investigations,‎ Mr. Tarfa’s law firm, Rickey Tarfa & Co. with Access Bank Account with account no. 0000964760 paid N225,000 into Justice Yunusa’s bank account.

“‎I know from facts revealed during investigation that the said bribe of N225, 000.00 Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Naira) was accepted and acknowledged by Justice Yunusa in a text message to the Applicant wherein he said, “Thank you my senior advocate”.

‎”I also know that investigations has revealed that the applicant’s law firm was in the habit of asking the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to assign his cases before His Lordship Honourable M. N. Yunusa in furtherance of the understanding between the Applicant and the particular judge.

‎”I also know that investigations has revealed that even the junior counsel in the law firm of the applicant also engaged in the corrupt practices of their boss by manipulating the Federal High Court Registry to fix and assign cases filed by them to particular judges. Attached and marked Exhibit ‘P’ herewith are text messages on the assignment of the applicant’s firm’s cases to Justice Yunusa’s court.”

‎The Commission further stated that Mr. Tarfa had, in April last year, attended a book launch in honour of Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, in the company of Gabriel Igbinedion, who was the chief launcher.

‎Mr. Tarfa introduced Mr. Igbinedion to judges and senior lawyers who attended the programme, according to the EFCC.

“That I know as a fact that inspite of the Applicant’s knowledge of Rule 3(f)(j) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers which stipulates that ‘A judicial officer and members of his family shall neither ask for nor accept any gift, bequest, favour, or loan on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties’ the Applicant did not advise his client not to donate the said sum of N8 million to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Now shown to me and marked Exhibit ‘Q’ is Thisday edition of 3rd May 2015 capturing the proceedings of the launching including role of the Applicant.

“That I know as a fact that the Applicant’s client, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion made the donation of N8m in the referred occasion to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court inspite of knowledge by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion that his son Michael Igbinedion who had been convicted was awaiting the sentence of the Federal High Court in criminal proceedings pending against Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s son (Chief Michael Igbinedion) before the Federal High Court.

“That I know as a fact that a few hours after the donation of the said sum of N8 million to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court by the Applicant’s client, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s convicted son was sentenced to a year imprisonment or N1 million through a questionable plea bargain which was condemned by all right thinking Nigerians.”

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Top News

Victor Aikhionbare

Anyone still in doubt about the devastating role corruption has played in Nigeria really does have a problem
- Issei
  
  Na true ooh my broda. Fela talkam him say you be thief I nobe thief,hahaha
  - Dodondawa
    
    you be army robber, i no be army robber
    - Julius
      
      I no be arm robber !
- share Idea
  
  Please can EFCC investigate who tried stealing FG budget from NASS. I will wait for the case in court to get the real details as this government has formed the habit of lying to the citizen
BobSolo

God will save our country..these people make Nigerians to believe that ‘hard work does not pay..that the only way to success is corruption’ however they are wrong..light will always overcome evil…if our lawyers and judges connived to pervert justices what future does the nation has…anyway..Ricky Tarfa…our nation will overcome corrupt lawyers like yourself.
e_orpheus

‘Whom the gods would soon destroy, they first make mad’.
That madness was manifest in his stowing away two suspects in his car while obstructing the efcc from doing their job and was a prelude to what the gods had already set in motion.
As if Mr Tarfa’s acts alone aren’t bad enough, “investigations has revealed that even the junior counsel in the law firm of the applicant also engaged in the corrupt practices of their boss”; he is running a training ground for young and aspiring legal lowlifes to perpetuate his evils.
Just when I thought the barrage of SANs queuing behind Mr Tarfa was the lowest point, this comes up. Not that one hasn’t considered such things have been going on, but to have it wham in your face like this all at once..
We shall overcome.
OYO MEESI

How exactly can we have a prosperous nation when ordinary Nigerians are denied justice simply because our judiciary is a cesspit of corruption?
- Julius
  
  You are right. I read where a petty thief that stole some handsets was sentenced to 2 years in jail the other day. Imagine that. People stole, bribed judges with millions are walking around and being made chief in their villages .Unbelievable !
Reason-ability

Nigeria we fail thee! This is the result of corruption of the SAN award in the first instance. Most of them “bought” the SAN status so that they can fleece clients of millions just for the sake of the appellation SAN and because the Judges themselves are not so sound in their law they are cowed by SANs who speak not much law before them but rather theatrics. Friends, Nigerians, Countrymen, I can tell you that the best of lawyers (litigators) are in the system and they are not SANs simply because they would not perjure their souls to pay horrendous millions to the whole process of becoming SANs. A good number of SANs are charlatans. Most of them speak English like market people and practice the law like butchers. I have more respect for the market people and the butchers because they bring professionalism to their trade. At least they speak the language of their respective fields. Our SANs (not all of them I know) do not bother to aspire to professionalism and they throw ethics to the winds. The paramount ethic is that you are not in any way to pervert the course of justice on any account. You are not even supposed to put a client whom you know will lie on the stand on the stand. You are only allowed to debunk the prosecution’s evidence in such circumstances. For God’s sakes Lawyers are supposed to be gentlemen of the Bar. They are supposed to be officers of the Courts and officers of the temple of justice. But Alas! Nigerian SANs do the lying for their thieving customers (mark my words, customers and not clients). Let the cleansing start and let law once more become a noble profession. I abandoned it almost 20 years ago due to this corrupt state of both Bench and Bar and the bottles of death (alcohol lol) in between the bar and the bench-the court registrars, clerks, bailiffs, clients etc
- Izedomi Ohirein
  
  You should thank Nigerians who worked & voted for change. EFCC would not have been allowed to expose this shame. Now that we know & doing something about it is progress.
  Things like these were never exposed under PDP government.
  - Julius
    
    Well said, thank you !
  - Onike24
    
    We haven’t worked for change, we just parrot it.
    - Izedomi Ohirein
      
      People formed & campaigned for election of APC, that was working for change.
      EFCC, ICPC & CCB are charging more people to Court now than ever before. That is change.
      STA & BVN has been introduced that has exposed 23,000 ghost workers & leaving N2.2trn dialling balance in FG bank account. That is change.
      Ignorant noise makers like you cant see change or understand it & don’t even understand the ideological deference’s between PDP & APC.
      - Churchill Roosevelt
        
        @Onike isn’t saying anything different from you.You are on the same page
      - Reason-ability
        
        Thank you
      - Onike24
        
        Err, is difference between APC and PDP, is in truth marginal. The real difference is the Person of the President and the unrivalled strategic thinking of Jagaban. But I reiterate the fact that Nigerians are not ready for change, from what I seen, it is heartbreaking and makes PMB’s job more difficult but God willing he will be a one person change machine like Mandela or MLK. As for your claim that I am ignorant…….
      - Izedomi Ohirein
        
        That you can not see the changes, I have high lighted, makes APC/Buhari’s Job more difficult.
        You can not visualise the economic benefit of weeding FG payroll of 23,000 ghost workers & having N2.2tns daily bank balance.
        Buhari or Tinubu can only play their part, set standards for the next generation to emulate or try to beat as in Lagos.
        Al Rufai & Fashola have capacity to march or beat Buhari & Tinubu’s achievements in government or running APC..
        No one has marched Mandela’s records in 5yrs when he built 700,000 houses as against 1million houses he promised.
        Fashola improved on Tinubu’s records in Lagos, hopefully Ambode beats Fashola’s records. That is how to make progress.
      - Reason-ability
        
        You really do not understand that you are not on opposing sides. Onike 24 is just telling you that change still requires a lot more work that what we did (yes I also worked and contributed funds to APC campaign and almost beat up friends who were supporting PDP). Change of Government from PDP to APC does not now mean we have accomplished change in Nigeria. When every public officer holder is afraid of stealing funds because he knows the long arm of the law will get him and jail him, then change is beginning to come .
      - Izedomi Ohirein
        
        We are not on the same page.
        Those who can not appreciate the beginning of change which allowed EFCC, ICPC, CCB to function, imposing TSA & BVN that has exposed 23,000 ghost workers & N2.2.2trn daily bank balance can not appreciate change.
        Change is here already & working.
- Onike24
  
  Well said. May I recall a story to you? My husband had a trail which was meant to last for two hours, he had to take the examination in chief of his main witness, the judge had cleared his diary for the morning just in case, it went on for more than two hours. Anyway, long story short my husband found out the witness was lying because he had said something quite different during the preparatory conference. So he REPORTED HIS WITNESS to the judge. And his client lost. I also practised in Nigeria, after being called to the bar in the Uk and Nigeria. Some of the things that went on was horrendous, and that was like you twenty years ago. By the way, Ricky Tarfa practised in the same firm as I did and I know he knows nothing! I remember being so shocked he made silk, and I remember the late Bola Ige’s retort; ” profession yi ti baje pata pata”!
  - Churchill Roosevelt
    
    My sister,everyone knows Ricky Tarfa to be corrupt and an easy access to corrupt Judges.Politicians like Atiku,Ibori,Saraki use him frequently.
    Like you,i engaged the services of a UK trained and competent Lawyer who is incorruptible and is usually avoided by registrars.We had a valid case because it was straightforward.Few days to delivery of judgment,a sister to the Judge told my Lawyer that the Judge will soon be traveling to Dubai.The registrar made the same statement.It was obvious they were telling my Lawyer that though your case is clear and certainly you will get favorable judgment but you have to see Madam Judge.Of course,we didn’t give in.Two days later,she delivered a non suit judgment with no clarity.The Judiciary is stinking and different from what Bola Ige practiced.NJC is stinking and headed by an Executive Secretary,Mr Danladi who is corruption epitomized.
    I voted Buhari because i believe he will wield the sword of Elisha and Jehu.”Profession yen ti baje pata pata”
    - Reason-ability
      
      God will avail. Amen. Law is the only force on earth save God that keeps people in check so the law profession must be sanitised.
  - Reason-ability
    
    Thank you Onike24. I am sure we will know ourselves but this forum is not the place to reveal who we are. I practised in Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s chambers and my husband is also a lawyer. Our profession began to go south when the judges and SANs with integrity were attaining retirement age. Nostalgia for the days of Hon. Justices Adefarasin, Candido Johnson, Bada, Thomas, Jinadu, Roselyn Omotosho and ilk and the great SANs, GOK Ajayi, FRA Williams, Kehinde Sofola, Molajo, Coker, Akinrele and ilk.
B. Januzaj

‘ bribe’ of N225,000????
Hahahahahahahaha!
Dis kind APC/EFCC propaganda fit kill person wit laff ooo!
Hahahahahahaha!
PleeeeeeeeeASE!
- bib
  
  The pdp yam and goat government has so blocked your senses. Governance to you is only stealing.
Thesource

These corrupt group of SANs should be taught a lesson using Ricky Tarfa as an example. Am very sure the administration of Pmb will ensure this case is not swept under the carpet.
New Nigerian

Nigerian Bar Association or whatever association is responsible for granting the call to bar, should debar this criminal and also clean house – debarring many like him in the system…the judges should also be sanctioned by the attorney general like he promised!
Curseless

Buhari said to his credit “If we do not kill corruption, it will kill us all”. The cancer that Buhari is fighting is malignantly cancerous to say the least and it has metastasized into every bone and joint of the republic. For Nigeria to emerge from curse we must encourage Buhari and also pray seriously for deliverance. I pity people, castigating the President. Let him fight this cancer in whichever way, lopsided, down side, side sided, direct sided all sided. Fight this corruption cancer for the sake of our children and grand children. “Itakun to ba ni ki erin marin, toin terin lo jo nlo” a rooted vine that wants to block the movement of an elephant is surely going with the elephant. The naysayers should join in this crusade.
Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya

Rickey Tarfa is done for. Meanwhile, EFCC should stop using (Hon.) to address the useless Judge. Rickey Tarfa and the hopelessly corrupt Judge should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. EFCC should also revive the case against semi-literate (IN)Justice Ayo Salami and the several so-called senior lawyers and chieftains of defunct ACN when the oaf was president, Court of Appeal. A new dawn has broken!
- Julius
  
  There you are again calling people semi-literate. You changed your moniker but same garbage coming out of your anus. The Judge you disparaged wasnt even mentioned in the story. See your hatred homosexual loser life in display. Everything comes down to the Yorubas for you. You cant help yourself. Its clearly becoming a mental issues with you. Like I said, you are the dumbest biafraudian on the net.
Chuks

Nigerians are wasting their energy here. The Supreme Court will quash the case and set Rickey Tarfa free. There is hardly any judge in the High Courts that do not have agents collecting bribe money for him/her. Retired judges, Lawyers, Court clerks, Clerical officers, Registrars, Security Guards, Wife’s, and Children of judges are involved. Nigerias courts have become like police check points where you pay and pass. Ask any awaiting trial criminal, he will tell you he is in detention because his people are yet to raise the amount demanded by the judge for his freedom. Never think the over 90 SAN’s that followed Tarfa to court are joking. To them justice in Nigeria is like haggling prices at Oshodi market. How else can a Judge afford holiday trips abroad, train their children at private colleges and Universities or buy land and properties in Lagos or Abuja if they are not ‘business partners’ to Ricky Tarfas or Daudas?
- Reason-ability
  
  Bad journalists reporting on that. There were less than 15 SANs on that day but up to 90 lawyers in total. The SANs brought the lawyers in their respective chambers along and some “mo gbo mo ya” lawyers also went so as to be part of the happenings. By the next hearing you will see sanity restored. Only a crazy lawyer or a fellow Alibaba will go and stand in solidarity.
  - David Musaed
    
    It is not bad journalism l, but your inability to read well and assimilate. The news said 90 SANS, lawyers. So you are wrong on this. You should go back and read again.
    - Reason-ability
      
      If you say so. But 90 SANs, with that comma suggests to me that the 90 relates to the SANs and then there are also other lawyers. My take but perhaps it is open for interpretation as ambiguity?
      - Onike24
        
        You are right, but they were more than 15, and I having practised in Nigeria looked for the list and sure enough none of them came as a surprise. The whole SAN thing needs sanitaization. Ricky Tarfa has to pay bribes because he didn’t deserve to be a SAN in the first place. Olodo ni. He knows nothing.
      - Reason-ability
        
        Agree totally with you and on the last point especially
- YK
  
  You are mostly right.
- share Idea
  
  Is that how VP acquired his wealth? Nigeria we hail thee
  - tundemash
    
    Mor0n, time you get over your loss. Is the VP the only lawyer your f00lish mind wandered to ? I hope you have started preparing for your deployment to Sambisa now that the Alhaji Boko Haram has taken over your PDPig party.
  - tunde008
    
    Atiku made his money from bribes he collected from state governors from ecological funds ala plateau state under Dariye
    - share Idea
      
      I never knew Atiku was a lawyer / SAN as my comment was directed at the current VP that fits the description of the previous commentator. Nigeria we hail thee
- Paul Young
  
  Your assessment is not so far from the truth but i disagree on one point. I think judges are very well paid. In my state Judges make about 1 million naira monthly with official quarters and car. On that kind of salary you can make good investments and buy land in abuja, send your kids to school abroad etc. It is just greed that is the problem here. Some Judges want to be paid bribe for every case they seat for. it is a shame. But i think we need this in Nigeria to expose the corrupt elements in the Judiciary, not forgetting of course that fashola is a SAN too. Any one proven guilty should be placed in the same prison he sent people to and all cases he has presided over should be immediately reviewed
  - Onike24
    
    A million naira? What is that? about £2000? That’s not enough! In the Uk a high court Judge earns more than the Prime minister.
    - Paul Young
      
      Well this is Nigeria. When you consider that government Doctors and Engineers don’tearn that much then you know that it is indeed substantial. One million a month is a HUGE salary in Nigeria which less than 10% of the population get Iam sure
- Burning Spear
  
  Is that the issue at stake—what about the british police who were alleged to have collected bribe from the unpatriotic Nigerians who sponsored the Ibori, late Alams and Dariye trials in London via ther blood stained Ogboni hands of Obj?
  - Sparzo
    
    There is always the rotten apple in a barrel.
    In our case it is a barrel full of rotten apples and very few healthy ones.
- Prophet
  
  No supreme court Judge will be moronic enough to try and free Tarfa in this case. That is akin to committing professional suicide.
Julius

People still ranting, asking where is the change ?
Omolaja nofiu

Is this not the same Ricky Tarfa who became a SAN suddenly and was always defending Atiku against Ribadu’s EFCC and Obj in the past? So was the guy settling the judges in those so-called “celebrated” cases?
Rommel

This is legacy of the PDP,Rickey Tarfa should be debarred immediately while awaiting sentencing by the court,when the president said Judiciary was his problem,did people not attack him? I am happy Tarfa is seeking damages,we will soon see what his reputation is worth
Paul Young

These are very damning allegations and if they are proven to be true then this is a HUGE embarrassment to the judiciary. The funny thing is the people he was accused of obstructing their arrest are not even Nigerians so why protect them from the law? Why not allow they be detained and then you bail them subsequently as all lawyers do.It does not matter whether he thinks they were guilty or not. This kind of lawyer will even encourage his clients to commit crimes so they can pay him his 10% from the proceeds to represent them if they are caught
REDEEM

-The budget confusion is yet another deterrent for investors already reluctant to invest in the country as a result of Buhari’s monetary policies, which have caused a severe dollar shortage and the naira to hit unprecedented lows of 340 against the dollar on the black market.

Nigeria has frozen the naira at 197-199 to the dollar for almost a year in a bid to protect the poor, while the government has banned a wide range of imports — including toothpicks and shovels — to conserve foreign exchange reserves.

The policy has been criticised by international investors, who say pegging the currency and restricting imports is futile and only serves to suffocate growth.

Recent pressure from the International Monetary Fund to devalue the currency appears to have been rebuffed by Buhari, who declared last month “I won’t kill the naira” and promised the country’s economy will “stabilise soon”.

“Investors aren’t confident because there isn’t a clear path forward,” Rand Merchant Bank Africa analyst Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana told AFP.

“As long as those budget delays are happening it means that the central bank is going to have to do the heavy lifting for the economy,” she said, speaking from Johannesburg.

“The worst case scenario is policy paralysis, particularly what we’ve been seeing with the central bank and foreign exchange policy.”

Recent pressure from the International

– Stoking inflation –

Instead of protecting the poor, the policy vacuum is stoking inflation on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, where people bemoan the price of previously affordable staples.

“A plate of rice that was sold for 200 naira in December is now 350 naira. Customers are complaining because they don’t get the same ration like before,” street food vendor Mary Idowu told AFP.

A 50 kilogram (110 pound) bag of rice that used to cost 9,000 naira now costs 13,000, while a bag of beans has gone up from 12,000 naira to 15,000, she said.

“Whenever I try to explain why prices are high, they flare up,” Idowu said about her customers.

Rising food costs pushed the inflation rate to 9.6 in January — above the bank’s target range — with no sign the pressure will ease anytime soon.

“Prices are rising, despite attempts to keep the official Nigerian naira exchange rate unchanged,” said Standard Chartered Bank economist Razia Khan.

“It is unfortunate that our policy makers are very slow at responding to critical issues,” said Lagos Business School political economy professor Pat Utomi.

“The government should realise it cannot continue to defend the naira because it does not have enough reserves to do so,” he said.
Ashibogu

Magu means business! Criminals beware!
Godfrey Etokebe

Buhari has surrounded himself with people that are far away from realities. POOR HIM!!!
- Prophet
  
  Unlike Jonathan who surrounding himself with people that shoved him into la la land while they robbed the nation blind.
  We have no forgotten “where is the $2billion coming from”
- tunde008
  
  I hope you are not Tarfa himself?
- Onike24
  
  No sir, it’s poor you.
Burning Spear

The headline alone is enough to make one yearn to throw out–without wasting time to go through the entire rubbish——Dont these socalled Editors in Premium Times, have an Editorial Policy–in place?—Is it anything goes provided it is Pro APC or from the head of the Mugu in Efcc?-Again when the aticle itself is even examined against the backdrop of the number Apes hired by APC, to throw their smelly vomit at us in this forum-It becomes more shocking to say the least! I sincerely hope the Buharimice rented to work on the web, are not telling us that a Nigerian Judge so cheapened himself to the point of accepting less than $1,000 bribe from his lawyer to enable him change the cause of Justice sha? Aware this vindictive story against the NBA, is being read by millions of humans around the world right now—That an unthinking Nigerian judge, decided to stake all his reputation, years of experience in the Nationas Judiciary, education, and the name of his family, because of 1,000 dollar bribe? Pls tell that to the marines i begi! Methinks this Magu of a man in Efcc, is actually going insane—————if not already a victim of some hard drugs—-he would not dare sponsor such a silly story to insult the enire Nigerian Nation——————-This is a National Disgrace—worse-than the insult Buhari poured on Nigerians in Diaspora by calling them–criminals—-less his soul since he sees himself as a retired General from Niger Republic———animals
- Godfrey Etokebe
  
  Magu has lost touch with REALITY!!
  - Daniel
    
    Precisely what is your point? That nobody should talk about corruption or do something about it? Please explain your point.
    - Godfrey Etokebe
      
      When did a DONATION becomes CORRUPTION?
      - Daniel
        
        You need to study the ethical code of judges . Then you will see the link. The judge allowed himself to be corrupted by Igbenedion via Ricky Tarfa.
        
        No wonder Lucky Igbenedion walks free. I am from Edo Satae and can testify to the pillaging of that state by Igbenedion before Oshiomole rescued us.
        
        What about James Ibori? The same ,’no case’, until he was prosecuted in London.
        
        Time is up for Ricky Tarfa.
      - emmanuel
        
        i differ on this.
        i complained bitterly about Yunus’s antics in Court before this burble burst. He is such a low man!
        wettin be donation?
      - Godfrey Etokebe
        
        ” ……….did not advise his client not to donate the said sum of N8 million to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.”
        
        Is it the lawyer’s duty to advice his client whom to share his/her wealth with?
      - Prophet
        
        Donation becomes corruption when it is against the law.
      - sapos
        
        Wait ntil they donate your fathers soul then you will understand that it is more than corruption.. unless you are one of those think that stealing is not corruption.
  - uduakomiri
    
    You wear the mark of evil corruption on your forehead! Given what Magu is currently doing, he is more of a saint than Pope John Paul II! Magu within a short timeframe has recovered billions of naira stolen from Nigerian coffers. In the history of Nigeria, there has never been a time all these corrupt individuals who assume they are above the law have willingly refunded money stolen from the Nigerian government until Magu became head of EFCC under this government. Things are starting to change slowly in Nigeria and a lot of people who are the beneficiaries of corruption are the only people opposing this noble crusade. For every one naira the EFCC recovers or prevents individuals from stealing, that is akin to saving one naira for Nigeria, that is akin to contributing one naira to the cost of building roads, hospitals, schools, vocational training, life saving drugs, repairing our aging infrastructures, utilities and frontline services. For every one naira recovered or prevented from being stolen, EFCC is helping strengthen the Nigerian state, its economy, political system and the welfare of the citizens.
    Biko, answer me, in what way is saving Nigeria comparable to losing touch with reality? Are you sure you are ok at all?
- tunde008
  
  Which means he has been doing this for a long time.This amount is just being used to expose and ridicule this people who will not think twice to sentence a poor man to 50 years imprisonment for stealing 5 naira.
luvnaija

This is the lowest of all lows for Nigeria. PMB should purge the Judiciary of all bad eggs
Dazmillion

Tarfa’s is going down. He has been in this bribery business for long. Thank God for the new EFCC under Buhari. Fat Larmorde would never have prosecuted Tarfa
- uduakomiri
  
  That fat cunt Lamorde needs to be arrested too. He is in the same boat as Yunusa and brainless Tarfa. Lamorde ran EFCC as an extortion ring. It is disheartening he still walks around a free man!
  - Prophet
    
    language please!
    - sam
      
      Which language? Lamorde is a bursted flush and a fat cunt!
SAM .A

Mr Ibrahim Magu ,EFCC Chairman ,you have got the 1st culprit to scapegoat . if it is true that this man was communicating with Judge in charge of the case and he also bribed the Judge . Please go ahead and prosecute them , the two should be in hand cuff before another Judge on live TV. All those SAN who followed Rickey Tarfa to Court also do same , we need more of them exposed .The cleaning up is in top gear . More grease to ur elbow.
- IZON Redeemer
  
  The corruption of the Judicrary started under Justice Salami by the Tinubu led APC-Besides was Tinubu and his legal team not caught exchanging text messages—-with Justice Salami of APC—? Yet Tinubu was freed by the same court that MUGU of efcc ati APC is presently vilifying——————so the question is how much did tinubu pay for his freedom——-
  - uduakomiri
    
    Whatever. We don’t want to know who started it or not, we want all of them tried, and sent to the place where they rightfully belong: prison!
  - tunde008
    
    What good has any ijaw man done both in balyesa and rivers?.Tinubu has changed the face of lagos for us.
  - ’70
    
    One good thing is that you agree that the judiciary is corrupt. For once both of us agree on one thing… no, 3 of us including Buhari agree that the judiciary is corrupt!
  - Rommel
    
    HahahahahahahahahaLol how would you define corruption in Ijaw, I hear that this word does not exist in Ijaw language,I also have been made to understand that seeing public money and not helping oneself with it is considered evil in Ijaw land,enlighten me more my good friend,you know I like you a lot
Rommel

When the president complained about the judiciary,they shouted that he wanted to gag them,now we know why
emmanuel

If Yunusa collected N225,000.00 from Tarfa, it is now clear why Yunusa stage managed the case of fundamental human Right a fraudulent mallam brought before him to obstruct justice.
Yunusa should be in his village rearing cow and not in the Judiciary.
- Mafar_Ka
  
  Yunusa’s case is opened by one MALLAM Magu of EFCC… go figure.
objective

Even the enemy of Buhari’s government must acknowledge that we are in a completely new era altogether. These revelations are alien to the Nigerian culture of “sacred cownism” (permit my coining of English). Impunity appears to be on its way out of our country. Let’s put hands together to kick it out.
- Prophet
  
  We agree with you but if we are going to kick this thing, we prefer to use our foot.
Burning Spear

The corruption of the Judiciary may have started under Justice Salami by the Tinubu led APC-Besides was Tinubu and his legal team not caught exchanging text messages—-with Justice Salami of APC—? Yet Tinubu was freed by the same court that MUGU of efcc ati APC led by Buhari are presently vilifying————So the question is how much did tinubu pay for his freedom-?——When he was charged with operating 17 bank accounts abroad-At least Mugu as an investigator should be able to tell—us———–Aware Efcc has more cases in court under Mugu—over false accusations—than any other head of efcc—in the history of the country————–
- objective
  
  Even so sir, assuming, but without conceding that what you are saying is the position, what did the PDP government do about it? Nothing! I can’t see any point in these arguments you are canversing sir. I am sorry.
- pheliciti
  
  Exchange of text messages? The same false allegations that got an SAN disbarred.
objective

If the Judiciary is cleansed, Nigeria is made.
Obosi Warrior

Nigerians should hold their breath until they hear the story of Mr. Daudu (SAN). He is numero uno (#1) in this game of bribing judges.
- Fadama
  
  That one is a fat buffoon
Sparzo

I read an article yesterday, about 30,000 Nigerians in jails awaiting trial.
Many for longer than they would have been incarcerated for, if they have been tried and found guilty.

How does the Nigerian judiciary sleep at night?
90+ SANSs appearing in font of a judge to represent and/or support Ricky Tarfa.
Na god go punish all of them.
- Prophet
  
  watch and see how many of these 90 SAN’s show up next time near Tarfa.
clairvoyance

We need to hang those that call themselves SAN’s bcoz they are nothing but rogue. Jungle justice would be nice idea.
Shetty

This war on corruption is a can of worms Buhari has opened a can of worms, only God can help us .
Alhajivinco

Now you guys can see why politicians and powerful people always get those frivolous injunctions. Now you know why the Supreme Court ruled in favor of most of the embattled PDP governors. And of course Justice Yunusa did not just collect the token amount reported. He has been collecting millions, presumably in cash. It happens that it is ‘small things’ that undo people. This token sum was probably paid into the judge’s account as a “quickie” by an ‘uninitiated’ representative of Mr Tarfa who made the mistake of not handing the cash directly to the judge. Or the fellow may have done it deliberately to implicate the both of them. The country has hit rock bottom. The rot is too deep and extensive to root out in the short term. But it is doable if Mr Buhari tackles it head on as he seems determined to do. All SANs deserve to be ashamed for what their colleague has done. But then again, that is what they all do. Rather than talk law, they send cash.
uduakomiri

This is brilliant, what EFCC is doing. God bless OBJ for setting up the EFCC. God bless Buhari for allowing EFCC to bite really hard rather than the toothless bulldog it was under the last administration. One interesting thing about this case is that Ricky Tarfa is not only going down, but also Justice Yunusa, the chief court registrar of Lagos state high court judicial division, the chief judge of the federal high court, Lagos Ibrahim Auta, and some junior lawyers at Ricky Tarfa chambers are all going down. So in one fell swoop, EFCC would be dismantling a part of the criminal mafia in our judiciary and legal system. That is brilliant. Another interesting thing about this case is the use of technology by the EFCC in its investigations. No matter how smart a criminal things he is, he could never beat forensic science when applied in a well structured criminal investigation. I feel so happy that if it was possible to have a fund raising to build a modern forensic laboratory for use by the EFCC, I would be more than happy to donate my widows mite to that kind of fund. The police needs to borrow a leaf from EFCC. After all, many of the operatives of the EFCC are regular police officers seconded to the agency by the police. I think the police needs to assist the EFCC in the anti-corruption war because there is so much to do, there is so much dirt to clean from the Nigerian system that we can’t realistically expect the EFCC to do it all ALONE!
Please dear friends, why don’t we all join hands and help the EFCC fight corruption in our country. I am sure many of us here have credible, actionable intelligence/information about individuals in government and positions of authority actively involved in corrupt practices. Some of these corrupt people may be your friend, spouse, wife, husband, father, mother, brother, sister, or relatives, they may be your pastor, imam, dibia, babalawo, marabout, whatever they are to you, to rid Nigeria of vermin like them, we need to start blowing off the lid on all these people. They are simply destroying our beautiful country, they are destroying our economy, imagine lawyers like Ricky Tarfa bribing a judge to rule in their favour, imagine the consequences of the judge’s ruling on the other party who is not at fault, who sincerely deserved justice and instead got a massive injustice simply because a judge sold his judgement for a mere 250,000 naira, (£500). How could a judge entrusted with the authority to dispense justice destroy the lives and livelihood of another by selling justice to the guilty party for a mere £500! This just shows that if we don’t fight corruption, if we don’t start giving all these corrupt people up now not withstanding whether they are friend or family, one day in the future, these people would sell all of us into slavery for something as cheap as 50 naira! Corruption is worse than cancer, and we must kill it first before it kills us all in Nigeria!
- Burning Spear
  
  How much–were u paid to post this rubbish on behalf of the Apes in APC–Are u telling us a Nigerian judge took a bribe of N240,000 because of a case involving a woman and a man from the Republic of Benin-abi——U must be crazy if u think an sane Nigerian will buy into these Efcc sponsored rubbish against the NBA and the Judiciary–Mugu head of Efcc will never win the fight–never–Let him continue with his silly acts to pull down the Judiciary for togolese nationals and those from the Republic of Benin–who cares—————-It is the efccc—that so much litigations in our courts————-This case should have gone to the Ecowas court——-since it ovolves people who are not even Nigerians–Let us klnow how much tax they paid since they opened their business in Nigeria–before we allow Efcc to intimidate the judiciary
  - uduakomiri
    
    Unlike you, this brother doesn’t have a price tag. Not everyone could be bought. That is what morally bankrupt people like you fail to get their thick skulls around, that some people can’t be bought!
    - Burning Spear
      
      Keep quiet—u said the same things against me when Jonathan was in power—that I was his paid agent—-Am I not still here long after his forced departure-by the American CIA-? So who is responsible for my wages maybe Ricky Tarfa-ati Tompolo———-or Asare Dokubu- liars thieves–who claim to be fighting a fake war against corruption—-while they doctor the budget with a view to stealing from the poor——-Animals
      - Prophet
        
        You supported the wrong party and now your mind won’t let you accept the defeat……that is why you bleat anytime something good in the country happens. You can not believe your gods are as horrible as evidence is showing so you disparage the folks working hard or to achieve (or commenting positively about) Nigerias good tidings.
        Bad belle will kill you!
      - ezeuba
        
        I discovered that the main grouse of these wailers is not so much that their hero lost an election, but that their ‘gods of men’, sorry… ‘men of god’ were proven to be liars when almost all of them saw ‘visions’ and ‘revelations’ from their god that Jonathan had already won the election…
    - Prophet
      
      she is female.
  - Action Group
    
    How much were you paid too to attack this commentator?He is entitled to his opinion just as you are,so let your views be yours but allow him air his views without harassment and name calling,Mr.know-All.
    - Burning Spear
      
      Mugu is just being stupid—He was charged by his thieving boss who attempted to steal via the Budget-to reduce stealing in Nigeria not the republic of Benin—-There are indication that it is either Obj–Buhari or Osibanjo who are behuind this woman from the Republic of Benin-involved in this fake matter—That is why there are more than 12 cases right now in court against efcc—–and buhari——Cause Mugu could not litigate against more that 30 governors who stole under Obj while working under Ribadu–Is now here deceiving Nigerians after hiding their files—Soon it will be with Ijaw woman Mrs Madueke–the next day the spirit of Ken Saro wiwa–It is an Insult for a Nigerian judge to obtain 240,000 Naira not dollars from a man resident in the Republic of Benin–a very pooor country for that matter——–The man is just bringing shame to his adopted country Nigeria–same as Buhari did in London–by calling 9jas criminals
      - Prophet
        
        stop bleating! Some people are trying to read.
    - Prophet
      
      your brother is female.
      - ezeuba
        
        Bros where did you get this line from?… LOL…
  - joe
    
    “…This case should have gone to the Ecowas court——-since it ovolves people who are not even Nigerians-…”
    – Puppy, so you think if you committed a crime in New york, your trial should go to International Court of justice or what?. Your ass would be thrown into Guantanamo! 🙂
  - mo
    
    Simply put. You are a bastard!
    - george
      
      As your father and every other Yorubas person are too
Angry Niaja

Oh boy I thought I read the figures wrongly at first. I thought the bribe was 225 million, but boy oh boy, it is 225 thousand something. These charge and bail lawyers and judges are a disgrace. Is it a wonder the country is on its knees. There’s no organisation that’s not currently embroiled in some scandal or the other, amazing!!!!!!!
- bikky
  
  Bro that may be part of the gooddies the SAN and the judge agreed on or it may be “oga Yunusa I go send transport fare to you for your trip to Abuja,or oga that is your recharge card money” you understand, that may not even be the part of the original.
when will amaechi be charged

The immediate past governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi illegally acquired and diverted not less than N40 billion of Rivers State funds into the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President, emerging details are revealing.

Funds running into billions of naira were unaccounted for in sleazy misappropriations allegedly facilitated and presided over by the former Rivers State governor. Sources informed about the shady deals under Amaechi availed SIGNAL, details that show how Rivers State’s treasury was emptied into private concerns of the former governor as well as the APC presidential campaign.

In October 2015, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up to investigate the sale of state assets in Rivers State under Amaechi demanded the immediate prosecution of Amaechi and all his cronies involved in the illegal sale of Rivers State assets. According to the panel report, Amaechi misappropriated over N97 billion in the sale of the state valued assets.

“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds therefrom.
REDEEM

Nigeria’s First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari has said 7 Nigerians in the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan stole N3.3 trillion meant for the development of the country.

The president’s wife made this disclosure while speaking at the get-together for social media changers in Aso Villa, Abuja. In her words,”N3.3 trillion was embezzled by only 7 people.

Young people should monitor monetary allocations to ministries and demand judicious use of same.Unquote.
But when Buhari was caughtt stealing the budget from the office of the senate president-Aisha Buhari kept quiet-became scared that the allocation of 1.75b for her feeding will be yanked off her table—and replaced with the original 560m Jonathan voted for Aso rock——-The Aso Rock Clinic also took over 3b while efcc looked the other way————–Yet the entire country got only 2b for the erection of new hospitals——In spite of these glaring abuse of power–by Buhari and efcc—–The media men in aso rock led by Shehu Garba, defended the alloction of 3b for the aso rock clinic and 1.75b for food——Sadly for us, several months after Buhari defended the satanic allocations–in the so-called budget of change-Buhari used c ertain individuals who have made their mark in the finanicial sector as the fall guy in the budget of madness that Buhari presented to the House———————————-
when will Amaechi go on trial

The immediate past governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi illegally acquired and diverted not less than N40 billion of Rivers State funds into the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President, emerging details are revealing.

Funds running into billions of naira were unaccounted for in sleazy misappropriations allegedly facilitated and presided over by the former Rivers State governor. Sources informed about the shady deals under Amaechi availed SIGNAL, details that show how Rivers State’s treasury was emptied into private concerns of the former governor as well as the APC presidential campaign.

In October 2015, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up to investigate the sale of state assets in Rivers State under Amaechi demanded the immediate prosecution of Amaechi and all his cronies involved in the illegal sale of Rivers State assets. According to the panel report, Amaechi misappropriated over N97 billion in the sale of the state valued assets.

“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds therefrom.
efcc exposed

kpeazu (SAN): Defendant voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC?

PW8: That’s correct.

Ikpeazu (SAN):Was he alone when he made the statement?

PW8: No, he was not alone.

Ikpeazu (SAN): I will be right to say that you asked question and he responded?

PW8: My lord, yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): did not touch or physically opened his mouth?

PW8: No, my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he eat anything while writing the statement? Did he eat his statement as widely reported in the media?

PW8: No my lord. Metuh was not willing to sign the unsigned.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did Olisa Metuh mention to you during interrogation that he made presentation to Goodluck Jonathan.

PW8: Yes

He did not say the cost of the presentation was N400m

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he say that the former President requested his account detail after the Presentation?

PW8: Yes.

Ikpeazu (SAN): What did you find out?

PW8:Yes we found out that the presentation has to do with publicity and the image of PDP. We found out that PDP was embarking on a national election and Jonathan was the candidate.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out that disbursement were made for the campaign activities of the PDP. Did you find out any personal relationship between Dasuki and Metuh, Destra?

PW8: Not at all. There is no relationship between sambo dasuki and Olisa Metuh.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if Dasuki was answerable to Metuh.?

PW8: No

Ikpeazu (SAN): Who was Dasuki answerable to?

PW8: He was answerable to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Ikpeazu (SAN): In the course of your investigation did you obtain any statement from former President Jonathan?

PW8: No, my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): you mentioned that N400 million was not authorized?

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Who does approvals for payment by ONSA?

IPW8: It is internal arrangement of the office where contract is confirmed executed. NSA and director of finance indicate that job has been done properly before payment.

Ikpeazu (SAN) What is the official designation of SA Sanusi in the office of ONSA?

PW8: He was the director of finance.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Spony?

PW8: Yes my lord. He is staff of CBN

Ikpeazu (SAN): Confirm that you have the names and signatures of the authorize persons, Dasuki and others.

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you come across any document where ONSA classify the transaction as security services?

Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Do you know what EFCC classify as security services.

PW8: Yes

NOTE: Witness made to read from exhibit from ONSA saying the payment made to the company of Olisa metuh’s company followed due process. Witness was in shock after reading the Exhibit that completely exonerates Olisa Metuh.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Nobody has been convicted in respect to the disbursement of the 400 million?

PW*: Yes my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out when Destra account was opened?

PW8: Yes. 10th Feb 2014.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if there was any other disbursement from ONSA to Destra?

PW8: It was found out that Dasuki withdrew N10b and converted to 14.7m dollars and gave to the ADC of the former President and the special Adviser to the President to share to PDP top notches for PDP special convention. The 2m dollars given to Ararume by Metuh is strongly linked to the disbursement of N14.7 m shared out to PDP members.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Is there any document from either Dasuki or anybody from EFCC in respect of the said N14.7m?

PW8: No my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Any complaint from EFCC made in respect of the N2m dollars. Do you have financial statement between Olisa Metuh and Ararume?

PW8: No. My Lord

Ikpeazu (SAN): Are you aware that such transactions are documented/

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Apart from Yomi Badejo, the EFCC did not get information from any other person present at the presentation to former President Jonathan

PW8: No.
- bikky
  
  A lot of error in this charge.
True Nigerian

And this criminal SAN is the guy that 90 SANs went to defend. Shame on the legal profession in Nigeria. The profession is not only dirty, but shamelessly and proudly so! What a shame!
True Nigerian

Yunusa should now be used as an example. He has to go to jail. This idea of stopping at compulsory retirement of judicial thieves has to stop. Yunusa ought to be used to set an example to all the wicked and conscienceless fellows who call themselves judges in Nigeria.
dudu

I believe if the NJC and the CJN is serious about being the third independent arm of govt, it should immediately direct these judges Ibrahim Auta, Liman and others to step down and be retired. All the shameless SANs should also be prosecuted because they are no different from the 40 thieves. I term it: ” Ricky Tarfa and the 90 thieving Soiled Advocates of Nigeria (SAN)”
bikky

Now,where are we going from here? These so called SANs have turned the Nigeria to their farm where they can plant and harvest at their will, mention one of them that has not riped where they did not sow, they destroyed this nation, taken judges for granted, carrying monies around, possession of these SANs in terms of riches is beyond the jobs they are doing. They are another mafia to wrestle with.
Peter

Is there any laws that forbids a lawyer from communicating with a judge during the tendency of any matter before his court? If there is, PT should get this and let Nigerians know it so that we are further educated..
- Onike24
  
  The fact that an adult does not know that it is wrong for one side to communicate with the judge while a case is on going shows how far the rot has gone. It is not ethical to communicate with a judge ex parte.
  - Reason-ability
    
    Judges in those days never even attended parties or social gatherings so that they would not put themselves in compromising situations where litigants may approach them. I remember the first time I saw a judge at a function in Ikorodu and he wore the same “fila” as his social club mates at a party (anko) I knew the slippery slope had started and it was time to begin to get out of the practice of law as a Barrister.
    - Onike24
      
      God bless you! I can’t think of a judge I knew as a child who attended parties; and if they go they go for less than an hour. I knew one Supreme Court Judge ( God rest his soul) who never went for Jummat prayers, so that people won’t use that opportunity to approach him. What would Gani make of the bar and bench today.
- emmanuel
  
  judges are to have minimal dealings with the society, they are well catered for and respected. how much more having dealings with Lawyers, especially those with cases in their Courts. it is forbidden.
  Most Lawyers would rather enjoy the bad side of the Legal profession (the crookedness in it), than to be nominated a Judge, where their social life and opportunity to make quick cash is limited
- emmanuel
  
  judges are to have minimal dealings with the society, they are well catered for and respected. How much more having dealings with Lawyers, especially those with cases in their Courts. it is forbidden.
  Most Lawyers would rather enjoy the bad side of the Legal profession (the crookedness in it), than to be nominated a Judge, where their social life and opportunity to make quick cash is limited
- Rommel
  
  I wanted to write to you then I felt shy because you might be someone totally lacking in reasoning because it seems shocking that a human being with grey matter would ask such question as you just did,almost unbelievable
- Sparzo
  
  ”…….during the tendency of any matter before his court?”
  😀
MushinSpeaks

These SANS are largely responsible for the woes in this country. If there must be change, an holistic review of the judiciary must be done.
Olamide

The Judiciary has been corrupt a long time ago. The rot in our system has really killed all institutions. May God help us.
blogNaija

there are few of these fellows who stand for the ethics of their profession
but many of these so called “LEARNED MINDS” are more plagued by the society ills than a local farmer that has never seen the possibility of a better life! many of these lawyers have greatly helped to fertilize the errors in our society!
JSA1

NO WONDER! PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SAID THE JUDICIARY IS HIS GREATEST HEADACHE IN THE FIGHT AGAINT CURRUPTION. PMB IS VINDICATED IF THIS STORY ABOUT RICKY TARFA IS CORRECT. GOD WILL HELP THIS OUR DEAR PRESIDENT TO TAKE NIGERIA TO THE NEXT LEVEL NO MATTER WHAT THE JUDICIARY DOES. THE CJN MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETIRE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR. IT WILL BE DISASTROUS TO ALLOW HIM REMAIN TILL THAT TIME. HIS IS A BIG ROUGUE. PMB SUSPEND VIRTUALLY ALL THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES. THEY ARE CORRUPT. WHAT A SHAME TO THE JUDICIARY!!!
lex loci

@joelsomeyi:disqus

The Ricky Tarfa case will illustrate all that’s been wrong with
Nigeria’s justice system, starting from bribes offered and received with thanks
to justice intentionally miscarried as sold verdicts. More than that, it will
test the rule of law in the country.

Kunle Kalejaiye (S.A.N) was expelled from
the legal profession last year for less atrocious offence of improper
communications with a Judge on a live case. The Ricky Tarfa matter, by contrast,
includes evidence of bribery. In law, similar cases are judged alike. Will the Ricky
Tarfa case be an exception in Nigeria’s slippery justice system? Who knows?
OmoLasgidi

This T-Ricky Lawyer should be jailed to serve as a “Scapegoat” for other fraudulent Lawyers, while the Judge should be dismissed from the bench, and prosecuted. We need such severe consequences that will deter others. Other Judges known to have assets and obscene bank accounts should be investigated! The cost of the travesties of their judgement has ruined hundreds of people and sent some to their early graves!
Johnson

Upon the conviction of Ricky Tarfar, the Police should commence an investigation into most of the briefs handled by his law firm. Apparently, the specialty of the Firm is in fraudulently securing favourable judgments for its clients. Similarly, the cases handled by Justice Yunusa should be subjected to peer review to ascertain their correctness. With these revelations, I expect the Attorney General to review the sentence of Mr Michael Igbinedion and other questionable sentences and judgments. .
- Hassan Lawal
  
  …nice point!
ed

The 90 shameless SAN’S that went with the leader to court , were no where to be found after the Modu operandi of Nigeria justice system became public knowledge.
- Xrate2016
  
  Editor Premium Times,
  
  Kudos to EFCC Chairman Magu
  
  I write to thank and give kudos to EFCC Chairman Magu. He is doing God’s work and God will reward him.
  He has put JIDE OMOKORE in prison custody since Tuesday over $4.5billion liability, based on remand order,
  and has placed Dizeani Madueke’s husband on surveillance reporting over $600,000 found in his bank account. Similarly, past military generals are in prison – including the past Defence Chief Alex Badeh – over a billion dollars stolen from defence funds, some of which were recovered from a latrine soak-away where it was hidden by one of these military generals.
  
  Ditto, houses worth 5 billion Naira bought with their proceeds of thefts have been seized from these generals.
  
  It is in that context that EFCC Chairman Magu deserves public support in his correct prosecution of Ricky Tarfa (S.A.N) for criminal bribery of a sitting Judge of the High Court. I will like to advise the EFCC to file a motion to revoke Ricky Tarfa’s bail on point of law. The charges against Tarfa evince an intention to corrupt and destroy honesty in the judicial system. Those charges are as grave as alleging on affidavit evidence that Ricky Tarfa will not attend his trial – which is a legal basis to deny bail to an accused person. I render this advice to safeguard
  the exhibits of this case.
  - ed
    
    We need to include the bribe takers. The judge should be prosecuted as well.
MC

Kudos to EFCC on this one!
SAM .A

Show me your friend and I will tell u the kind of person you are .All those 90 SANs are like Tarfa , NIgerians should find a way to deal with them . They are all rogues in wigs and gown.Solidarity with a thief because they all do the same thing.
wazobia scatter!!!!!!

getting bloodier ……………………………………… lets promote this fight to its bloody end ……………………….
Zeetabeetaphi

EDITOR SIR,

May I urge the Premium Times editorial board to list the names of
the so-called Senior Advocates of Nigeria who filed behind infamy in full support
of bribery and obstruction in the matter of Ricky Tarfa. The expression: ’93 SANS’
does history no favours. The full names of each lawyer who engaged in this show
of shame should be listed. Each of those lawyers had a moral choice; to either
march in support of EFCC and save the legal profession from the type of Ricky
Tarfa, or, march behind Ricky Tarfa in support of obstruction of justice and
bribery. They chose the latter to deepen the corrupt mess in Nigeria. Each of
those 93 lawyers should be properly identified for history’s sake.
- efcc exposed
  
  kpeazu (SAN): Defendant voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC?
  
  PW8: That’s correct.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN):Was he alone when he made the statement?
  
  PW8: No, he was not alone.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): I will be right to say that you asked question and he responded?
  
  PW8: My lord, yes
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): did not touch or physically opened his mouth?
  
  PW8: No, my lord.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he eat anything while writing the statement? Did he eat his statement as widely reported in the media?
  
  PW8: No my lord. Metuh was not willing to sign the unsigned.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did Olisa Metuh mention to you during interrogation that he made presentation to Goodluck Jonathan.
  
  PW8: Yes
  
  He did not say the cost of the presentation was N400m
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he say that the former President requested his account detail after the Presentation?
  
  PW8: Yes.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): What did you find out?
  
  PW8:Yes we found out that the presentation has to do with publicity and the image of PDP. We found out that PDP was embarking on a national election and Jonathan was the candidate.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out that disbursement were made for the campaign activities of the PDP. Did you find out any personal relationship between Dasuki and Metuh, Destra?
  
  PW8: Not at all. There is no relationship between sambo dasuki and Olisa Metuh.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if Dasuki was answerable to Metuh.?
  
  PW8: No
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Who was Dasuki answerable to?
  
  PW8: He was answerable to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): In the course of your investigation did you obtain any statement from former President Jonathan?
  
  PW8: No, my lord.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): you mentioned that N400 million was not authorized?
  
  PW8: Yes
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Who does approvals for payment by ONSA?
  
  IPW8: It is internal arrangement of the office where contract is confirmed executed. NSA and director of finance indicate that job has been done properly before payment.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN) What is the official designation of SA Sanusi in the office of ONSA?
  
  PW8: He was the director of finance.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Spony?
  
  PW8: Yes my lord. He is staff of CBN
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Confirm that you have the names and signatures of the authorize persons, Dasuki and others.
  
  PW8: Yes
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you come across any document where ONSA classify the transaction as security services?
  
  Yes
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Do you know what EFCC classify as security services.
  
  PW8: Yes
  
  NOTE: Witness made to read from exhibit from ONSA saying the payment made to the company of Olisa metuh’s company followed due process. Witness was in shock after reading the Exhibit that completely exonerates Olisa Metuh.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Nobody has been convicted in respect to the disbursement of the 400 million?
  
  PW*: Yes my lord.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out when Destra account was opened?
  
  PW8: Yes. 10th Feb 2014.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if there was any other disbursement from ONSA to Destra?
  
  PW8: It was found out that Dasuki withdrew N10b and converted to 14.7m dollars and gave to the ADC of the former President and the special Adviser to the President to share to PDP top notches for PDP special convention. The 2m dollars given to Ararume by Metuh is strongly linked to the disbursement of N14.7 m shared out to PDP members.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Is there any document from either Dasuki or anybody from EFCC in respect of the said N14.7m?
  
  PW8: No my lord.
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Any complaint from EFCC made in respect of the N2m dollars. Do you have financial statement between Olisa Metuh and Ararume?
  
  PW8: No. My Lord
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Are you aware that such transactions are documented/
  
  PW8: Yes
  
  Ikpeazu (SAN): Apart from Yomi Badejo, the EFCC did not get information from any other person present at the presentation to former President Jonathan
  
  PW8: No.———————–
- Prince KB
  
  You are right! I’m from Kebbi State and this is what TARFA & CO. are doing to us NOW. Please read below: “TARFA (the EXPERT lawyer that the best money can buy is the same lawyer defending GOVERNOR ATIKU BAGUDU OF KEBBI STATE, in his political cases). it is most intriguing (BUT NOW OBVIOUS) how he (Tarfa) was able to block the election tribunal challenge case against Gov. Bagudu FROM EVEN BEING HEARD at all levels, up to the Supreme Court.
  
  Unluckily for Gov. Bagudu now, Tarfa himself is in the dock. Nemesis has caught up with him; his TRICKS IN CONIVING WITH THE JUDGES have now been uncovered by none other than the EFCC.
  
  Tarfa is slated to defend Gov. Bagudu, March 2, 2016, in a pre-election case before a federal high court in Abuja challenging Gov. Baudu’s qualification to stand election and the case is ongoing now. With the antecedents of Tarfa, not only the PDP in Kebbi State, but all the nonpartisan observers of Kebbi State’s extraction are in prayers for true justice to prevail.”
  
  UNBELIVABLE!
ALBERT

Investigating and reporting corruption, malfeasance and sharp practice though a collective war usually championed by the Press. In Nigeria, it is unfortunate that, it has been left in the hands of Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. The bane of African problem has always been leadership, leadership and leadership. Leadership is not about balancing budget, rebasing the economy or having 170 support Groups. For the first time since 1999, Nigeria and Africa is seeing what leadership means. We have started seeing our public institutions responsible for fighting corruption in motion and professional. The Ricky`s case is going to be another `gate` that will expose our Judiciary. We all knew that, our Judiciary was rotten but who was willing to bell the cat? We have seen some so called SANs who specializes in handling high profile corruption cases . They have never won any but they have succeeded in halting all the trials on technicalities. We have seen Judges given reliefs and even granting permanent injunction prohibiting public agencies to even investigating, arresting or probing certain persons whose spouse is a Supreme court judge.
dodondawa

@disqus_RFgXa4tzhj:disqus

If by omission or commission Ricky Tarfa is granted further license to continue in his ways,
in wig and gown, then, the Body of Benchers shall be bound by law and good conscience
to recall all disbarred lawyers into the profession and enact bribery as integral to lawyering.
ukoette ibekwe

So is the also charged? Or it’s this trial by the press.
- efcc media trial
  
  In December 2010, Nigeria agreed to drop the corruption charges against the company’s former boss, Dick Cheney and Halliburton in exchange for a $250 million settlement. The Federal Government, through the Office of the AGF, then set up a team of five lawyers to ensure the swift recovery of the funds. $26 million was agreed to be paid to the lawyers.
  
  According to reports, Dodo said it was agreed that the money would be paid from the fine imposed on the company, and not directly from Federal Government’s purse.
  
  In a letter addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, Dodo had admitted receiving $4.5million as legal fees but said he returned $1million to the Federal Government. According to him, the over $200m that was recovered was paid directly into the account of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
  
  Dodo also informed that Daudu was the team leader and he acted under his instructions, noting that other details would be provided by Obla (SAN).
  
  “I am also aware that some other sum was approved to the AGF as the Federal Government cost from the payments received by Obla & Co. And that the sum was accordingly remitted to the Federal Ministry of Justice. Chief Godwin Obla will provide you further details in this regard.”
  
  In his overview of government’s out-of-court settlement on the issue, Adoke said he did not solicit or receive money in the Halliburton Scandal.
  
  “I did not solicit or receive any bribe from Dodo or any lawyer on account of the Halliburton case or any other case or transaction that I was involved as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,” he explained.
  
  Adoke explained that on assumption of office in 2010, “I was approached by the then Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, with a letter from some American lawyers to the effect that they wanted to sue Halliburton and other associated companies in respect of the LNG bribery scandal on the understanding that they would be entitled to 33 1/3 of whatever they recovered as professional fees.
when will he appear in court

The immediate past governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi illegally acquired and diverted not less than N40 billion of Rivers State funds into the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President, emerging details are revealing.

Funds running into billions of naira were unaccounted for in sleazy misappropriations allegedly facilitated and presided over by the former Rivers State governor. Sources informed about the shady deals under Amaechi availed SIGNAL, details that show how Rivers State’s treasury was emptied into private concerns of the former governor as well as the APC presidential campaign.

In October 2015, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up to investigate the sale of state assets in Rivers State under Amaechi demanded the immediate prosecution of Amaechi and all his cronies involved in the illegal sale of Rivers State assets. According to the panel report, Amaechi misappropriated over N97 billion in the sale of the state valued assets.

“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds therefrom.
Efcc exposed

kpeazu (SAN): Defendant voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC?

PW8: That’s correct.

Ikpeazu (SAN):Was he alone when he made the statement?

PW8: No, he was not alone.

Ikpeazu (SAN): I will be right to say that you asked question and he responded?

PW8: My lord, yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): did not touch or physically opened his mouth?

PW8: No, my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he eat anything while writing the statement? Did he eat his statement as widely reported in the media?

PW8: No my lord. Metuh was not willing to sign the unsigned.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did Olisa Metuh mention to you during interrogation that he made presentation to Goodluck Jonathan.

PW8: Yes

He did not say the cost of the presentation was N400m

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did he say that the former President requested his account detail after the Presentation?

PW8: Yes.

Ikpeazu (SAN): What did you find out?

PW8:Yes we found out that the presentation has to do with publicity and the image of PDP. We found out that PDP was embarking on a national election and Jonathan was the candidate.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out that disbursement were made for the campaign activities of the PDP. Did you find out any personal relationship between Dasuki and Metuh, Destra?

PW8: Not at all. There is no relationship between sambo dasuki and Olisa Metuh.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if Dasuki was answerable to Metuh.?

PW8: No

Ikpeazu (SAN): Who was Dasuki answerable to?

PW8: He was answerable to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Ikpeazu (SAN): In the course of your investigation did you obtain any statement from former President Jonathan?

PW8: No, my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): you mentioned that N400 million was not authorized?

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Who does approvals for payment by ONSA?

IPW8: It is internal arrangement of the office where contract is confirmed executed. NSA and director of finance indicate that job has been done properly before payment.

Ikpeazu (SAN) What is the official designation of SA Sanusi in the office of ONSA?

PW8: He was the director of finance.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Spony?

PW8: Yes my lord. He is staff of CBN

Ikpeazu (SAN): Confirm that you have the names and signatures of the authorize persons, Dasuki and others.

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you come across any document where ONSA classify the transaction as security services?

Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Do you know what EFCC classify as security services.

PW8: Yes

NOTE: Witness made to read from exhibit from ONSA saying the payment made to the company of Olisa metuh’s company followed due process. Witness was in shock after reading the Exhibit that completely exonerates Olisa Metuh.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Nobody has been convicted in respect to the disbursement of the 400 million?

PW*: Yes my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out when Destra account was opened?

PW8: Yes. 10th Feb 2014.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Did you find out if there was any other disbursement from ONSA to Destra?

PW8: It was found out that Dasuki withdrew N10b and converted to 14.7m dollars and gave to the ADC of the former President and the special Adviser to the President to share to PDP top notches for PDP special convention. The 2m dollars given to Ararume by Metuh is strongly linked to the disbursement of N14.7 m shared out to PDP members.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Is there any document from either Dasuki or anybody from EFCC in respect of the said N14.7m?

PW8: No my lord.

Ikpeazu (SAN): Any complaint from EFCC made in respect of the N2m dollars. Do you have financial statement between Olisa Metuh and Ararume?

PW8: No. My Lord

Ikpeazu (SAN): Are you aware that such transactions are documented/

PW8: Yes

Ikpeazu (SAN): Apart from Yomi Badejo, the EFCC did not get information from any other person present at the presentation to former President Jonathan

PW8: No.
Prince KB

TARFA (the EXPERT lawyer that the best money can buy is the same lawyer defending GOVERNOR ATIKU BAGUDU OF KEBBI STATE, in his political cases). it is most intriguing (BUT NOW OBVIOUS) how he (Tarfa) was able to block the election tribunal challenge case against Gov. Bagudu FROM EVEN BEING HEARD at all levels, up to the Supreme Court.

Unluckily for Gov. Bagudu now, Tarfa himself is in the dock. Nemesis has caught up with him; his TRICKS IN CONIVING WITH THE JUDGES have now been uncovered by none other than the EFCC.

Tarfa is slated to defend Gov. Bagudu, March 2, 2016, in a pre-election case before a federal high court in Abuja challenging Gov. Baudu’s qualification to stand election and the case is ongoing now. With the antecedents of Tarfa, not only the PDP in Kebbi State, but all the nonpartisan observers of Kebbi State’s extraction are in prayers for true justice to prevail.

UNBELIVABLE!