Alleged corruption: EFCC re-arraigns dismissed judge, staff of Rickey Tarfa Chambers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned Mohammed Yunusa, a dismissed judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, and Esther Agbo, a member of staff of the law chambers of Rickey Tarfa (SAN), at an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
The two are facing fresh eight-count charges of corruption.
They were initially arraigned on a five-count corruption charge on January 17, 2018.
Yunusa had faced a four-count charge of attempted perversion of the course of justice and corruption by a public official, while Agbo was charged with offering gratification to a public official
On Tuesday, Yunusa faced fresh charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice, corruption by a public official, use of office or position for gratification, gratification by a public official, corrupt demands by persons.
Agbo on the other hand faced fresh charges of offering gratification to a public officer and corrupt offer to a public officer.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lead EFCC prosecutor, Wahab Shittu, said Yunusa, while serving as a judge of the Federal High Court, engaged in constant and confidential counsel with Tarfa.
He said: “Tarfa was the counsel to the applicants in suit no FHC/L/CS/714/2015 between Mr. Adewale Adeniyi vs EFCC and two others, suit no FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rena Prestige Industries and another vs EFCC and two others.
“He was also the counsel in suit no FHC/L/CS/716/2015 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Limited and three others vs EFCC and two others during the time Yunusa presided over these matters as a judge.
“On May 14, 2015, Yunusa received N1.5 million paid into his UBA account number 1005055617 by Esther Agbo, a staff of Rickey Tarfa and Co, on account of favour or disfavour being shown in relation to cases handled by the law chambers in the cases before him.”
The EFCC said Yunusa between March 2015 and September 2015, received N750,000 in his UBA account from a former SAN, Dr. Joseph Nwobike.
Shittu said: “Agbo on May 14, 2015 corruptly deposited N1.5 million into the UBA account of Yunusa to ensure favour or disfavour be shown in relation to cases handled by the law chambers of Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Co in the cases before Yunusa.”
The offences contravene sections 63(1)(b), 64 (1), 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011 and sections 9(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Following the re-arraignment, a prosecution witness and an EFCC investigator, Daniel Danladi, narrated how Yunusa allegedly had illegal communication with Tarfa.
While being led in evidence by Shittu, Daniel interpreted the contents of Exhibit A1, one of the evidences against the defendants before the court.
Danladi said: “The evidence in Exhibit A1 was generated from the two mobile phones of Rickey Tarfa (SAN) using an extractor to do the extraction, which was done in our office.
“The document contains information like text messages, photographs and other communications with Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and several individuals, including the first defendant (Yunusa).
“The communications are numerous.
“I will highlight one or two.
“On April 19, 2015, Tarfa sent a text message to the first defendant’s two mobile phones, where he supplied the charge number of a particular case and details of another case.
“The suit number Tarfa provided was FHC/CS/75/2000 for Menasa Nigeria Ltd vs KPMG and Peat Marwick vs Ogunde and Co.
“Another text message was sent on June 25, 2015, where the said Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) received a text message from the first defendant (Yunusa), saying: “Learned SAN, thank you.”