By Onozure Dania

Lagos—Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria,  Rickey Tarfa and Dr Joseph Nwobike were, yesterday, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on two different charges of offering  gratification running into millions of Naira, to pervert justice before two separate Lagos High Courts in Igboesere.

Ricky Tarfa

Tarfa was arraigned on a 27-count charge of  offering gratification to public officer and alleged failure to declare his assets in the declaration of Assets Form administration served on him by EFCC   when he was arrested.

While Tarfa was docked before Justice A.  Akintoye, Nwobike was arraigned before Justice Raliat Adebiyi on a five count charge of allegedly attempt to pervert the course of justice and offering gratification to public officer.

Meanwhile the duo who pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, were granted bail on self recognizance.

The two of the counts read: “That you Nwobike, SAN, on  March 19, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court, intentionally gave the sum of N 750,000  to . Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court directly through your United Bank for Africa Plc Account No.1002664061 in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.

‘’That you Nwobike, SAN, on September 28, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court, intentionally gave the sum of N 300,000 to  Justice Yunusa of the Federal High Court indirectly through Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to  Justice Nganjiwa Ajiya of the Federal High Court in order that Justice Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.”

In Tarfa’s case, the EFCC, Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedipo  alleged that the defendant  on February 10, 2016,  failed to declare his assets in the declaration of assets form that was issued to him by the agency, when he was arrested.

He said  Tarfa refused to declare his assets and also made a false statement on February 5, 2016 to one Usman Zakari, a senior detective superintendent and an officer of the EFCC in the course of the exercise of his duty, by claiming that he is 43 years old.

EFCC also alleged that Tarfa on June 27 2012, intentionally gave the sum of N1.5 million to Justice Ajiya of a Federal High Court in Lagos, from his Zenith Bank Account  No 1002926967, in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.

He was further alleged to have intentionally  given the same judge  the sum of N500,000, on the same day, in order that the said judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties..

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Tarfa, SAN, has, meanwhile denied having any under counter dealing with Justice Nganjiwa of a Federal High Court, Lagos as alleged by the EFCC.

Tarfa’s case was adjourned till March 22  and 23, while Nwobike’s case was adjourned to April 11, 21, 22, for trial.