On Monday 30, 2018, Justice Raliat Adebiyi of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High sentenced Joseph Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN to one month in prison for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

This Judgement brought to an end the case of Nwobike who was first arraigned on five count charges on March 9, 2016, of allegedly offering gratification and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charges against Nwobike who has been practicing for about 20 years, was later amended and expanded to 18 counts by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on which he was finally prosecuted.

In the new charges, the Senior Advocate was accused of offering the sum of N750,000 and N300,000 as gratifications to Justice Mohammed Yunusa and Hylladzira Nganjiwa both judges at the Lagos Division of Federal High Court.

The trial of the senior lawyer dragged on, taking different twists and turns, until Justice Raliat picked April 30 as the date for Judgement.

On the D-day, Justice Raliat after in a judgment which lasted over two hours found Barrister Nwobike, guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

While pleading with the court not to descend with the full hammer on his client, counsel to Nwobike, Barrister Omotola Akoni, said that the accused is a family man and a senior member of the bar who has always conducted himself in the right manner.

He also reminded the court that Nwobike is a first-time offender who until the beginning of the suit has not had any cause to stand in an accused box. Read more<<<<<

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