NJC Tenders Judges’ Code Of Conduct In Justice Yunusa Case Over Alleged Gratification
A Senior Legal Officer with the National Judicial Council (NJC), Ms Fatima Gamawa, on Thursday tendered a copy of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of Nigeria before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, in the on -going trial of dismissed Justice Mohammed Yunusa.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa, a former judge of the Federal High Court alongside an employee of Ricky-Tafa Chamber, Ms. Esther Agbor were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five count charge of unlawful gratification and attempt to pervert justice.
Justice Yunusa is facing a four-count charge of attempted perversion of the course of justice, corruption by a public official, while Agbo is facing a charge of offering gratification to a public official.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Gamawa, who was subpoenaed to testify by the EFCC, was told by the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu to read aloud, some excerpts of the document.
Reading aloud Rule 2.2 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers she said “Although social contact between members of the judiciary and members of the legal profession is a long standing tradition and is proper.
“A judge should act on the basis of common sense and exercise caution in this aspect of social contact with members of the profession.
“A judge would therefore be wise to avoid recurrent contacts with a lawyer appearing before him in the course of a particular case if this could lead to a reasonable perception that the judge and the lawyer have a close personal relationship.”
Gamawa read aloud Rule 2.5 which pertains to acceptance of gifts by judges from lawyers.
“A judge shall not accept gifts from a lawyer who might appear in a case before him if the gift is not one given to judges generally at festive seasons such as Christmas or Sallah gift.
“Provided always that the gift is not more than the ordinary given or not of pecuniary nature,” he said
Under cross-examined by the counsel, to the former judge, Robert Clarke (SAN) Gamawa revealed that she had been in NJC’s employment for a year and that the Revised edition of the Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers was the only one she had come across.
Also she told the court that when asked by Agbo’s defence counsel, John Odubela (SAN), when the revised edition of Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers took effect, Gamawa said February 24, 2016.
She, however, pointed out that Yunusa was accused of judicial misconduct in 2015 before the revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers took effect.
The EFCC alleges that Yunusa had constant and confidential communications with Tarfa, who was handling three lawsuits marked FHC/L/CS/714/2015, FHC/L/CS/715/2015 and FHC/L/CS/716/2015 before him.
It also alleged that Yunusa collected N1.5 million bribe from Tarfa for the purpose of giving favourable rulings and judgments in the cases.
The Judge is also being accused of receiving N750, 000 from a former SAN Mr Joseph Nwobike, between March 2015 and September, 2015, to get “favourable” judgment in some cases.
Agbo, the second defendant who is an employee of Rickey Tarfa and Co., on May 14, 2015 paid the N1.5 million allegedly from Tarfa into Yunusa’s UBA account.
According to the EFCC, Yunusa had constant and confidential communications with Tarfa, who was handling three lawsuits marked FHC/L/CS/714/2015, FHC/L/CS/715/2015 and FHC/L/CS/716/2015 before him.
It also alleged that Yunusa collected N1.5 million bribe from Tarfa for the purpose of giving favourable rulings and judgments in the cases.
The judge is also being accused of receiving N750, 000 from a former SAN Mr Joseph Nwobike , between March 2015 and September, 2015, to get “favourable” judgment in some cases.
Agbo, the second defendant who is an employee of Rickey Tarfa and Co., on May 14, 2015 paid the N1.5 million allegedly from Tarfa into Yunusa’s UBA account number 1005055617.
The offences violated Sections 64(1)(a) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. (NAN) 1005055617.
The offences violated Sections 64(1)(a) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Justice Sherifat Solebo adjourned the case until June 18 for continuation of trial.
