*It was for his mother’s kidney dialysis, says  the lawyer

Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa

By Akin Kuponiyi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that another Lagos senior lawyer  transferred N750,000 to the embattled Judge of the Federal High Court, Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, alleged to have received N225,000 from senior Lagos lawyer, Rickey Tarfa

The anti-graft agency said N300,000 was transferred to the company account of another judge of the Federal High court, Port Harcourt, Justice H.A Nganjiwa.

These  latest revelations are contained in a counter affidavit in opposition to the further and better affidavit deposed to by a former employee of Rickey Tarfa and Co. Mohammed Awwal Yunusa.

The embattled senior advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa SAN had sought and obtained the leave of court to file the further evidence in the N2.5billion fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed against the EFCC.

Countering the new evidence, an operative of the Commission, Moses Awolusi in an affidavit swore that new revelations have emerged about the  bribery of  judges through ‘a network of senior lawyers’.

He said: “Investigation has also shown that as part of this chain of fraud, Mr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) also transferred the sum of N300,000 to Hon. Justice H.A Nganjiwa.

“That investigations further revealed that Hon Justice M.N Yunusa as part of this scheme of fraud also received the sum of N750,000 from Mr. Joseph Nwobike SAN and Co.” he deposed.

However, Nwobike in his statement to the anti-graft agency, which was also attached to the affidavit explained that the money was not meant to bribe the judge. He said it was the judge who asked him for financial assistance in respect of his ill mother who was undergoing dialysis due to failing kidney.

The lawyer said: “Sometime ago, Justice Yunusa requested to see me. When I got there, he pleaded with me to assist him with some funds since his mother was under dialysis. He stated that her kidney had parked up and that he needs assistance to cure her. I felt sorry for him. I told him that I do not have funds, but that I will assist him when I got some money.

“I requested for his account details which he obliged me. When I got some money about two weeks after, I gave the money to him and he thanked me when he saw me along the corridor of the court of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.”

Hearing in the case continues on Thursday.