By Abdulwahab Abdulah

THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has  demanded explanation from Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court, over a petition sent to the National Judicial Council, NJC, by a businesswoman, Abdou Rachidatou  over alleged misconduct.

Justice Mahmud Mohammed

In the letter dated November 19, 2015 with Ref No. NJC/F.3/FHC/.49/1/324 sent to Justice Yunusa  through the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, the CJN  demanded an explanation from the judge within 14 days.

Mrs Rachidatou a Nigerian based citizen of Benin Republic in her petition dated November 11, 2015, had claimed that the judge allegedly connived with counsel to her opponents to rob her of justice.

According to the petitioner, she had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged manipulation of incorporation documents of a company, Rana Prestige Industries Limited, which she co-owned with one Mr. Gnahoue Nazaire also a citizen of Benin Republic.

She alleged that her grouse with the co-director was that Nazaire allegedly in partnership with the lawyer that handled the incorporation of the company changed the share capital holding structure from 50% each between her and Nazaire to 60% and 40% in favour of her partner. Mrs Rachidatou further alleged that in order to effect the alleged change in the share holding of the company, her signature was tampered with.

Frustration ofinvestigation

She also alleged the diversion of the company’s fund while she was away in France for six years. According to her, her petition to the EFCC for investigation was frustrated through the court. The petitioner alleged that her opponent through their counsel instituted three suits, FHC/L/CS/714/2015 Mr. Adewale Adeniyi V EFCC & 2ors; FHC/L/CS/715/2015 Rana Prestige Industries Ltd & Anor V EFCC and 2 ors and Hair Prestige Limited & 30 ors V EFCC & 2 ors.

She said the suits were allegedly filed to stop EFCC from investigating her petition. The petitioner expressed shock that Justice Yunusa had allegedly been communicating with counsel to her opponent shortly before the suits were filed and while they were pending contrary to judicial ethic.

According to her, Justice Yunusa communicated several times with the lawyer to her opponents through phone calls and exchange of SMS and promised to expose the alleged controversial conversation anytime she was invited.  Mrs. Rachidatou alleged that her co-director had been boasting in Cotonou that he had pocketed the judge in the matter.