Alleged Unlawful Enrichment: EFCC Files Charge Against Justice Fishim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a
criminal charge against Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National
Industrial Court (NIC) before the Lagos State High Court sitting in
Igbosere over allegations unlawful enrichment to the tune of N4.8
million.
Justice Fishim, who is one of the five judicial officers recently
recalled from suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC), was
slammed with a 19 counts charge of unlawful enrichment by public
official contrary to section 82 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos
State, No.11, 2011.
The commission in the charge obtained our reporter, accused the judge
of receiving the money from seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria and a
law firm between June 2013 and August 2015 through his account Number
2006900216 domiciled in First Bank Plc.
The anti-graft agency gave the names of the lawyers as: Chief Felix
Fagboungbe (SAN), Paul Usoro (SAN), Enobong Etteh, Uche Obi (SAN), Dr.
Banire (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Chief Adetola Kazeem
(SAN), Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and Alliance Law Firm.
The EFCC in the charge claimed Fagboungbe gave the judge N1.3 million
in four installments while Usoro gave him N1.1 million in three
installments.
The commission also alleged that Etteh gave the embattled judge
N400,000 in two installments, Chief Adetola Kazeem was said to have
given him N100,000.
The EFCC further claimed that Uche Obi and his law firm, Alliance Law
Firm gave the Justice Fishim N500,000 while Chief Akintola gave him
N500, 000 in three installments.
Nwobike, according to the anti-graft agency gave the judge N250,000 in
two installments while Dr. Banire gave him N500,000.
The EFCC had listed 16 persons including six of the lawyers as witness
in the case which is yet to be assigned to a judge for trial.
That you HON. JUSTICE AGBADU JAMES FISHIM between the 5th day of
August and 12th December,2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, being a Judge of the National Industrial Court
enriched yourself with an aggregate sum of N3000,000.00 (Three
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from Paul Usoro SAN through your
account No. No. 3008199491 domiciled in First Bank Plc so as to have a
significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain
the increase in relation to your lawful income.
That you HON. JUSTICE AGBADU JAMES FISHIM on or about the 27th day of
October,2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, being a Judge of the National Industrial Court enriched
yourself with an aggregate sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand
Naira) from Enobong Etteh through your account No. No. 3008199491
domiciled in First Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in
your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in
relation to your lawful income.
That you HON. JUSTICE AGBADU JAMES FISHIM on or about the 10th day of
February,2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court, being a Judge of the National Industrial Court enriched
yourself with the sum of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira)
from Gani Adetola Kazeem & Co through your account No. No. 3008199491
domiciled in First Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in
your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in
relation to your lawful income.
That you HON. JUSTICE AGBADU JAMES FISHIM between the 17th day of
October and 20th day of December,2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court, being a Judge of the National Industrial
Court enriched yourself with an aggregate sum of N250,000.00 (Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand Naira) from Uche Obi SAN through your account
No. No. 2006900216 domiciled in First Bank Plc so as to have a
significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain
the increase in relation to your lawful income.
That you HON. JUSTICE AGBADU JAMES FISHIM on or about the 3rd day of
July, 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
being a Judge of the National Industrial Court enriched yourself with
the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) from Chief
Adeniyi O Akintola SAN through your account No. No. 2006900216
domiciled in First Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in
your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in
relation to your lawful income.
