The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has reacted to the conviction and sentencing of Dr Joseph Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to one-month in prison for perverting the course of justice.
Nwobike was on Monday convicted of 12 counts bordering on perversion of the course of justice by an Ikeja High Court.
The SAN was convicted for the charges relating to exchange of text messages with court registrars, instructing them to assign cases to judges in order to receive favourable rulings and judgments in court.
Reacting, the Executive Director, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, expressed displeasure over the sentence.
Mumuni, who said he had yet to read the full details of the judgment, noted that given the weight of the offence, the punishment was mild.
He said “For the enormity of the offence, I do not think one month imprisonment will be sufficient punishment.
“The sentencing of Dr Nwobike (SAN) by the learned trial judge is ridiculous, it is a simply a pat on the back.
“It undermines the fight against corruption and a heavier penalty would have served the purpose of punishing the level of judicial impunity Dr Nwobike has displayed in this case.
“In the circumstances of this case, the best way EFCC on behalf of Nigerians to show displeasure against this judgment is to appeal against the sentence, the action is an endorsement of judicial impunity.”
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