The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned
a senior lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, before Justice Aishat Opesanwo of Lagos
State High Court, Igbosere, on 2-count charge of obstruction of justice
and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mr. Tarfa pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Based
on his plea, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the court
for a trial date and to remand the defendant in custody.
However,
Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who led a team of
over 90 Senior Advocates and other lawyers to represent Mr. Tarfa, said
they had filed an application for bail which he said was served on the
prosecution on the 10th of February, 2016.
In his application for
bail, the defence counsel told the court that the defendant went to
court voluntarily and that he was granted administrative bail by EFCC on
self-recognition.
He said the defendant was a very senior member of
the bar with no criminal record. He said there was nothing to show that
the defendant would jump bail.
However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application as the offence was
grave. He urged the court to dismiss the application and order for an
accelerated hearing.
Justice Opesanwo, in her ruling,
granted bail to Mr. Tarfa on self-recognition but ordered that he must
not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.
The
trial judge bemoaned the number of counsel who were in court for the
defendant. She noted that there was no need for such magnitude of
support as it amounts to harassment and intimidation of the court.
Soon after the ruling, Mr. Akintola told the court that he had filed an application to quash the charge.
Mr. Rotimi responded that he had not been served. He was subsequently served by the defence counsel in open court.
Justice
Opesanwo adjourned the matter to March 14, for hearing of the
application to quash the charge while the substantive case was fixed for
April 20, 2016 for trial.
Mr. Ricky Tarfa, SAN, is accused of
willfully obstructing two officers of the EFCC, Moses Awolusi and Sanusi
Mohammed from arresting Gnanhooue Sourou and Nazaire Odeste, who were
suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes in
contravention of Section 38(2) (a) of the EFCC Establishment Act of
2004.
Also, he is alleged to have engaged in improper communication
with Justice M. Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos between May 11
and June 25, 2015 while the case between the EFCC and two others was
pending before the judge.
Count 1:
“That You Rickey Tarfa (SAN) on
or about the 5th day of February, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction
of this honourable court, wilfully obstructed Moses Awolusi and Sanusi
Mohammed, authorized officer of Economic and Financial Crime Commission
from arresting GNANHOUE SOUROU and NAZAIRE ODESTE who were reasonably
suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes by keeping the
said suspects in your car between 11.00 hours to 16: 30 hours”
Count 2:
“RICKEY
TARFA (SAN) between 11th of May and 25th of June, 2015 in Lagos, within
the jurisdiction of this honourable court attempted to pervert the
course of justice by communicating with Hon. Justice M.N. Yunusa of the
Federal High Court through your mobile Telephone No. 08034600000 whilst
suit No: FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rana Prestige Industries Nigeria and
EFCC and Suit No: FHC/L/CS/716 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing
Nigeria and EFCC filed by you on behalf of the applicants in the two
suits seeking to retrain the commission from performing its statutory
duties were pending before the said judge”.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/198546-senior-nigerian-lawyer-rickey-tarfa-arraigned-floods-court-90-sans-lawyers.html
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