Exclusive: Delta Chief Magistrate Fingered In Alleged Bribery Scandal

A Magistrate in Warri, Delta state has been accused of committing judicial ‘rascality’ in two separate cases handled by him in which he allegedly demanded for ‘bribe’ to dispense justice.

The Magistrate, Carl Moeteke of Magistrates Court 1, Warri is currently in a deep mess over the alleged bribery scandal in which the National Judicial Council (NJC) may have been petitioned, BigPen Online can authoritatively report.

Source told BigPen Online that the magistrate allegedly “beheaded justice” in the bench in a case involving the proprietor of Integrity Professionals, (IPAS) who claim he is the archorman of Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA), Mr. Bright Akinyemi and Delta State Commissioner of Police.

The case was instituted by Akinyemi’s victim, one Christopher Sola Omagbemi who was duped under false pretense that they would help him secure admission into CIA.

Akinyemi and one Sarah who is also a staff of Integrity Professionals were arrested and arraigned before Magistrate Moeteke for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

The accused were arraigned before the court in charge No:MW/166C/2016 by the Police ”B” Division in Warri after investigation reportedly proved that the said IPAS Proprietor, Akinyemi was allegedly into duping unsuspecting victims using the name of the Chartered Institute of Administrators, (CIA).

Trouble started when Omagbemi went to IPAS in Warri to pick up Chartered Institute of Administrators, CIA form and paid the sum of Five Thousand Naira to Sarah Edema and was issued with receipts as directed by the said Akinyemi.

Three weeks after, which Omagbemi was told to come back to pick the form, just before the expiration date, he received a text message that he should call a number which he did. He was directed to FEDEX Warri by the said Akinyemi to collect his parcel but he was told that the text didn’t emanate from FEDEX, thus fueling suspicion that he has been duped.

Omagbemi was said to have reported the matter to police at “B” Division in Warri and got Akinyemi arrested and charged to court after investigation in which the accused allegedly confessed to the crime.

The court charge sheet obtained by BigPen Online read, ”That you Bright Akinyemi’M’, Sarah Edema’F’ and other now at large on the 31st day of March, 2015 at 253 Warri/Sapele road by Deco Junction, Warri in the Warri Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Obtaining money with false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C1 Vol 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria,2006.

“That you Bright Akinyemi’M’,Sarah Edema’F’ on the same date at the aforementioned Magisterial District did obtain the sum of #5,000.00 from one Omagbemi Christopher’M’ under the false pretence that you were going to process a chartered institute of Administration for the said Omagbemi Christopher and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria,2006.

“That you Bright Akinyemi ’M’, Sarah Edema’F’ and one other now at large on the 18th of December 2010, at the aforementioned Magisterial District did have in your possession Greater Heights Michael form with different signatures which you cannot give satisfactory accounts as to how you came about them and thereby committed an Offence punishable under Section 430(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C21,Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”

Meanwhile, before Omagbemi who was often represented by State Counsels could know what was going on, the said Akinyemi railroaded the Chief Magistrate to discharge and acquit him and the other accused, Sarah of the offence of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

This was against advice by Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) which stated in its legal advice that the accused have case to answer.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Omagbemi who spoke to BigPen Online over the judgment which was delivered in his absence, said that the Magistrate legally “beheaded justice” in his case, stressing however that while the matter has made him to lose faith on Nigeria judicial system, he now has renewed confidence on the Nigeria Police Force.

He alleged that ‘mouth watery’ sum of money exchanged hands between the Magistrate and Akinyemi who had boasted to him (Omagbemi) that he was a “poor man” as such his case against him wouldn’t see the light of the day.

According to him, Akinyemi who was earlier remanded in Okere prison in Warri by the court was suddenly discharged and acquitted of the alleged offence after paying for the judgment delivered in his favour.

The complainant who said a formal petition against Magistrate Moeteke was underway to the NJC for misconduct, noted that the police did a very thorough investigation on the case before the accused was charged to Moeteke’s court but instead of dispensing justice according to the law, the Magistrate gave ruling based on what has lined his pocket.

He however blamed the judiciary for miscarriage of justice against the ‘common man’, insisting that his case has shown that the judiciary is the reason why many innocent people are prosecuted unjustly and denied justice.

But when contacted, Magistrate Moeteke, though declined comments on the issues, mere said that he was aware that the complainant was trying to tarnish his image instead of appealing his case if he feels dissatisfied.

A source close to the Magistrates Court who pleaded anonymity claimed that the bribery allegations were handiwork of detractors who are out to malign the ‘good name’ of Magistrate Moeteke who was posted to the court earlier part of this year.

However, BigPen Online gathered in a related development that the same Chief Magistrate, Moeteke reportedly took over N370,000 in addition to fees he collected in every adjournment date from another victim, one Cynthia Igbigbi who was charged for alleged human trafficking.

In one trench of payment, the Magistrate allegedly received N40,000 bribe as part payment through account of his front, one Osademe Courage Chukwuwike domiciled in Eco Bank Plc with account number 0054723532 which he demanded from the said Igbigbi.

Documents seen by BigPen Online show different trenches of money that were allegedly paid by the said Igbigbi as was reportedly demanded by the Magistrate before her case with which the victim was arrested and charged was struck out for lack of substantial evidence.

Igbigbi who spoke to one of our correspondents in a telephone conversation in Lagos alleged that she bought packet shirts and suits for the Magistrate in addition to payment of N370,000 and other miscellaneous payment made to a contact man of the Magistrate who also called her on phone severally to find out if the monies have been paid before her case which she ordinarily would have won for lack of evidence was struck out.

This is a developing story

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