Judge hits out at man's 90-lawyer defence team

Mr Tarfa (C) arrived at court flanked by a legion of senior lawyers

A judge has criticised a lawyer facing criminal charges after he turned up to court in Lagos with a defence team of more than 90 people.

Justice Aishat Opesanwo described the approach as tantamount to "harassment and intimidation", a statement by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency says.

Prominent lawyer Rickey Tarfa is charged with the obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He denies both sets of charges.

Mr Tarfa is accused of blocking the arrest of two suspects wanted in a corruption case by keeping them in his car for nearly six hours on 5 February when they were due to be picked up by the authorities, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the case.

In the second charge, he is accused of perverting the course of justice by communicating through his personal mobile phone with a judge overseeing a trial between the EFCC and two private companies which he was representing.

Mr Tarfa was granted bail at the hearing and the case has been adjourned until March.

We Support President Buhari’s Fight Against Corruption – Enough Is Enough

Members of Enough is Enough Anti Corruption Group

Every day, you watch from the television, hear from the radio, read from the newspapers, browse through online platform of people in one form of misappropriation or the other and if you recall earlier this month, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was reported in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Laoulu Akande, that some elite Nigerians were mounting pressure on the Buhari administration to slow down on the anti-corruption crusade.

That statement also said that there were suggestions by those elite Nigerians for the government to actually cool down and allow those found to have stolen public funds to simply return the loot and go home.

But this is about the Enough is Enough Anti-corruption Group, a group of young men and women who probably were those of the class against Professor Yemi Osinbajo who would not compromise but are beginning to have the sense of what is right and wrong.

Speaking to Ige Ayeni, who is the coordinator of the said group, during one of their campaign, said that “enough is enough for corruption in Nigeria”. He went ahead to say that they hope to achieve more support of Nigerians so that the fight against corruption can continue and also to bring looters to justice. They went ahead to affirm their position to stand with the president against corruption and urged Nigerians to do so.

The basic message is for Nigerians to support collectively to the anti corruption fight by the Buhari administration as well as there should be no sacred cow and the judiciary should also live up to their responsibilities. The war might not be far or lesser than a kilometer but the message they expect should be impressive.

Rooney out of Europa League match

Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United’s Europa League game at FC Midtjylland on Thursday, the English football giants said in a statement on Wednesday.

England striker Rooney, the United captain, was not in manager Louis van Gaal’s 18-man squad which travelled to Denmark on Wednesday for the last-32 tie.

“Wayne Rooney is a notable absentee from the flight and the manager is expected to confirm why his captain has not made the trip during his pre-match press conference at 1700 GMT,” said a statement on United’s website.

Defender Matteo Darmian also missed out on the trip to Denmark after dislocating his shoulder during the 2-1 Premier League away to Sunderland last weekend.

Adnan Januzaj is cup-tied, having played in the competition earlier this season while on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

United’s loss to Sunderland left them fifth in England’s top flight and six points off a top-four finish — the club’s “minimum requirement” in Van Gaal’s words – that would secure entry into next season’s Champions League.

Defeat in Denmark would merely add to the pressure on van Gaal, with speculation mounting that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to replace the beleaguered Dutchman at the end of the current season.

PPMC Assures of Ample Products Supply in Lagos Area, Moves to Settle Rift in Mobil PTD Union

PPMC Logo

Following a hitch in the products supply system in the Lagos Area arising from the leadership tussle between the Mobil branch and national office of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (PTD), the Management of the midstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), says it has intervened in the dispute and that normalcy will soon be restored.

In a statement by the NNPC, it assured that there was sufficient stock of products in Lagos and across the country and advised motorists not to resort to panic buying as the situation was under control.

The Corporation reiterated its commitment to uninterrupted product supply to the general public in keeping with its mandate.

Justice Kafarati of Abuja High Court Gives EFCC Nod To Arraign Businesswoman For N4m Fraud

According to a report, Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, February 15, 2015 upheld the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to prosecute the duo of Bello Esther Olabisi, a director with Sheman Anthill Great Ningo Oil and Gas Refinery of Greater Accra, Ghana and Taibat Atinuke Raheem, a staff of First Bank Plc, for an alleged N4m fraud.

Olabisi had filed a motion before the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, seeking N100m damages against EFCC under the Fundamental Right Procedures Rule for alleged unlawful arrest and detention, unlawful seizure of property and unlawful freezing of account.

This came following a petition received by the Commission on March 26, 1014 from one Okon Offiong, Director, Qua Petroleum Refinery Limited, accusing the applicant of criminal breach of trust, cheating and theft.

The petitioner allegedly transferred the sum of $25,000 (equivalent of N4m) in two installments of N2m on August 12 and 13, 2013, respectively to Olabisi’s First Bank account no.: 2020793429.

The money, according to the petitioner, was meant to be a non-refundable consultancy and legal fee for Sheman Anthill Great Ningo Oil and Gas Refinery of Greater Accra, Ghana, where Olabisi works.

The petitioner further alleged to have transferred the money to Olabisi’s account because it could not be paid in dollars.

Though she assured the petitioner that she would send the financial instrument, otherwise called M7799 proof of fund, a week after receipt of the money, she became elusive.

Olabisi, however, was arrested by operatives of EFCC in a sting operation on September 10, 2014 and granted an administrative bail on the same day.

As a result, she was charged with false pretence and being in possession of forged documents before the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on February 23, 2015 by the EFCC.

However, efforts by the Commission to arraign her have been unsuccessful.

Delivering his ruling yesterday, Justice Kafarati upheld the argument of the respondent counsel, Ibrahim Audu, who had filed a counter- affidavit and a written address, and dismissed the suit filed by Olabisi for lack of merit.

Justice Kafarati also directed Olabisi to make herself available for arraignment by the EFCC, as charges have been preferred against her.

It will be recalled that Olabisi had previously been declared wanted by the Commission.