River Park Estate: Judge lashes out at Ghanaians over attempts to bribe court

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

In what could be described as a bizarre end in the alleged 26-count charge filed by the Nigerian Police, against three Ghanaians, namely; Sam Jonah, Kojo Mensah, Victor Quianoo, and their Nigerian lawyer, Abu Arome, Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday lashed out at the Ghanaians for attempting to compromise her court.

The Nigerian Police had after its final investigation report and considering a forensic report, charged the Ghanaians to court over allegation of falsified ownership documents of high brow River Park Estate.

The police had alleged in the struck out charge that the accused persons illegally increased share capital and used forged documents for companies like Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited and Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, to attempt to claim ownership of River Park Estate.

However, while their arraignment was pending in court, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) directed that the criminal charges filed against the Ghanaian investors and their Nigerian lawyer be put on hold and the case file handed over to his office.

On January 2, the AGF officially announced termination of the proceedings due to insufficient evidence for fraud and forgery allegations, claiming they had no case to answer.

However, in a ruling on the matter on Tuesday, Justice Modupe-Osho Adebiyi berated the accused persons for attempting to bribe her with money through the Court’s registrar.

The judge who was visibly angry, roared and warned that she is not the type of person that can easily be bought to compromise cases before her, insisting that such acts would be punished if it ever occurred again.

This accusation from the judge to the accused persons standing trial being Sam Jonah and four others raises question as to what has transpired, for the office of the Attorney General to set aside forensic report showing that fraud was committed to directing the matter be discontinued.

Lawyers in court took turn to express their dismay at persons standing trial attempting to bribe a judge as this again strikes at the heart of corruption within the Nigeria system.

Meanwhile, following the notice of discountenance of the charge filed by the Office of the AGF, the Judge was minded to strike out the charge against the accused Ghanaians and Abu Arome.