BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKOCT 30, 2015

James Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria reliably described as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s top picks for appointment as Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, represents several controversial clients including an Indian accused of defrauding several Nigerian banks of billions of naira, a former Managing Director of Finbank, Okey Nwosu, who is undergoing prosecution for questionable financial transactions, and a university professor from Kogi State currently facing trial over his suspected links with an Islamist terrorist group whose attacks have claimed thousands of Nigerian lives and led to billions of naira in damages.

One source within the Presidency told SaharaReporters that President Buhari was receiving “very bad advice” from some of the associates he trusts most when it comes to appointments. “If he chooses Ocholi as the AGF, then his action would be at variance with what he has always said he stands for,” said one source. “He has said he has zero tolerance for corruption and that he is fully committed to the war against terrorism in Nigeria. The appointment of Ocholi as Minister of Justice and AGF would rubbish those claims,” the source added.

Mr. Ocholi’s importance in the defense of Patrick Fernandez, who allegedly defrauded five banks of N32 billion, was demonstrated last week when the trial had to be adjourned because the lawyer claimed that he was being screened as a minister. But a reliable source in Abuja disclosed to SaharaReporters that the truth was that Mr. Ocholi had already been screened and confirmed as minister at the time the trial was to proceed. “But his inability to be present physically in court stalled the case brought against Fernandez by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” said the source.

Our Presidency source revealed that Mr. Ocholi rose to the top spot among those being considered for Minister of Justice because “he performed better that Abubakar Malami, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, during the screening process.” According to the source, Mr. Buhari and his associates were appalled by Mr. Malami’s lack-luster performance during the screening.

While Mr. Ocholi’s representation of Mr. Fernandez, an Indian accused of defrauding banks of billions of naira, may be perceived as a case of defending a wealthy client, his legal representation of Yunus Nazif, a lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Kogi State University, is bound to raise troubling questions. Mr. Nazif, who has a PhD, was in 2013 arrested with two AK-47 rifles in his possession. Prosecutors suggested that the academic had strong links with members of insurgent Islamist group, Boko Haram.

“It’s baffling that Ocholi came to represent Dr. Yunus Nazif who is not known to have the means to afford a high-priced SAN like Ocholi,” one of our sources said. Even so, Mr. Ocholi has vigorously defended the suspect, arguing at one point that, since the weapons found on his client were not labeled as “AK-47,” they could not be considered deadly weapons. He made the startling submission during one court session in 2014. A police investigator disclosed that the lecturer had virtually confessed to maintaining links to the Islamist terrorist group, even though his trial is ongoing.

Mr. Ocholi’s role as lead defense lawyer for former Finbank MD, Okey Nwosu, raises further questions about his fitness to become Nigeria’s chief lawyer. Mr. Nwosu and three other erstwhile directors, namely, Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike, are accused of stealing N10.9 billion from their former employee, now known as FCMB.

The EFCC is pursuing a 26-count charge against Mr. Nwosu and his fellow former bank executives. Mr. Ocholi and two other defense lawyers have been handling the case.

“Even if we allow for the presumption of innocence until proven guilty for Ocholi’s clients, there is still the issue of appearance. Will Nigerians ever feel confident that Ocholi can seriously prosecute cases of corruption and terrorism when he is a major player in defending high-profile defendants in corruption and terrorism?” one source asked.



http://saharareporters.com/2015/10/30/buhari%E2%80%99s-likely-attorney-general-has-high-caliber-fraud-suspects-accused-terror

So a Lawyer does his Job and is now termed a criminal?

chai! Sir Don. You don bring food for wailers to finish My PMB now.

OnankpaBa:
chai! Sir Don. You don bring food for wailers to finish My PMB now.

lol. you are not serious

so? In Oshiomole's voice. Wailers, go and die.

Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

HungerBAD:
So a Lawyer does his Job and is now termed a criminal?

My brother, people will always has something to say.

HungerBAD:
So a Lawyer does his Job and is now termed a criminal?

Sahara reporter are full of craps

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

Who is the wailer now?
Turn your annoyance to sharia reporters not PDP supporters

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

what are you really saying oga?

lalasticlala do justice

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

Omenka wetin u dey talk?i no dey understand you sometimes sef. Wetin dey there to look?so if a murderer go Church go confess his sins, that means say the pastor is guilty by association?

He is a lawyer and doing his job, there is nothing to look into.

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

Omenka, can you crucify Osholi coz he's a lawyer? He's doing his Job and as a lawyer you don't expect him to reject clients.

HungerBAD:
So a Lawyer does his Job and is now termed a criminal?

my brother help me ask them?

Ok naa

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

If he rejects the clients, wil u feed his family for him??... There's nothing to look into there... he's simply doing his job..

omenka:
[s]Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".[/s]

you need help

As ardent Buhari supporter, I must say, I don't like the antecedents of this Ocholi at all.

omenka:
Too bad. Buhari must look into and possibly review this in the light of the accusation.

Meanwhile, these same Wailers who would soon flood the thread to spit and sneeze all over the place would damn the source and bare the thoughts in their twisted minds.

Bring a news that is critical of PDP from the same source and place it directly under this thread and you'd find the same urchins rip SR apart as "APC/Tinubu Propaganda media".

you can only wail...pele

dustmalik:
As ardent Buhari supporter, I must say, I don't like the antecedents of this Ocholi at all.

reasons please.

dustmalik:
As ardent Buhari supporter, I must say, I don't like the antecedents of this Ocholi at all.

Oga tell us why.

dustmalik:
As ardent Buhari supporter, I must say, I don't like the antecedents of this Ocholi at all.

Bros Ocholi is more than qualified for that Job.

Unless, you have any other reason.

oluwaSmith1:


reasons please.

For one, if appointed as Minister of justice and AGF, don't you think that would influence his ongoing cases at the courts? That would be terrible.

DONSMITH123:


Bros Ocholi is more than qualified for that Job.

Unless, you have any other reason.

let watch and see how the events unfold.

dustmalik:

For one, if appointed as Minister of justice and AGF, don't you think that would influence his ongoing cases at the courts? That would be terrible.

I don't think so...i see a committed politicians who is ready to serve his father land without fear.

I like and believe Sahara Reporters but they sensationalize the tittle of this story is a bit appalling.


Before clicking on the story itself,you would have thought Mr Ocholi have serious fraud or terrorism charges against him not knowing he was just defending people charged with afore mentioned crime.

They should predict 1960 bet if they don't have anything meaningful to write.

They really disappointed me

dustmalik:

For one, if appointed as Minister of justice and AGF, don't you think that would influence his ongoing cases at the courts? That would be terrible.

"His ongoing case"....He's a defendant and as so he cease to be the lawyer as soon as he get this appointment..... I understand your fears though, that he might use the authority of his new office to influence judicial procedures in the favour of his "former" client... Fear not bro...

themilanway:
I like and believe Sahara Reporters but they sensationalize the tittle of this story is a bit appalling.


Before clicking on the story itself,you would have thought Mr Ocholi have serious fraud or terrorism charges against him not knowing he was just defending people charged with afore mentioned crime.

They should predict 1960 bet if they don't have anything meaningful to write.

They really disappointed me

God bless you my brother.

HungerBAD:


Omenka wetin u dey talk?i no dey understand you sometimes sef. Wetin dey there to look?so if a murderer go Church go confess his sins, that means say the pastor is guilty by association?

He is a lawyer and doing his job, there is nothing to look into.

Bros no be so oo. I just dey try dey fair and reason how the Wailers go reason the matter at the same time.

That was why I said "possibly review".

why am I not surprised?

dustmalik:

For one, if appointed as Minister of justice and AGF, don't you think that would influence his ongoing cases at the courts? That would be terrible.

now i understand your point. But believe me, he will hands up as soon as he becomes the AGF.

papaejima1:
why am I not surprised?

SUPRISED OF WHAT SIR?