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”.



source http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198546-senior-nigerian-lawyer-rickey-tarfa-arraigned-floods-court-90-sans-lawyers.html

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