Admin l Friday, June 21, 2019
IGBOSERE, Lagos, Nigeria – A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Rickey Tarfa was on Thursday granted leave by a Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere to recuperate after undergoing surgery. Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the order following Tarfa’s application for more time.
He had failed to attend trial for allegedly offering bribe to a judge since January 21, when he travelled abroad following a medical emergency.
Rickey Tarfa is facing a 26-count charge of offering gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa. He is also charged with perversion of justice by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). He was absent in court March 11, 19, May 8 and 31 when his matter came up for hearing.
His counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko SAN had told the court that he was unable to climb the staircase leading to Justice Akintoye’s courtroom, even on a wheelchair, because of the severity of his condition.
But in March 19, Owonikoko told the court that Tarfa’s doctor had informed him that he will required a minimum of three months medical leave to recuperate. On May 31, Tarfa filed another application seeking an extension of time. But the judge insisted on medical report from a general or a teaching hospital before hearing the application.
At the resumption of proceedings on Thursday, Tarfa, who was represented by Mr John Odubela SAN, said the defendant had carried out the judge’s instructions.
“We have provided sufficient evidence sorrounding the defendant’s health circumstances,” Odubela said, among other things. He explained that Tarfa had succumbed to unexpected complications in his recovery process and that he was going through “so much pain” that the doctor who performed the operation and a doctor had to be flown in.
He prayed the court to discountenance the opposition of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr U. U. Buhari and rather, grant Tarfa’s prayers.
“The management of the post surgery is very important. It is a matter of three, four months or thereabout. Only the living can stand trial,” Odubela added. In her ruling, Justice Akintoye held that having taken all the factors into consideration, “I am inclined to grant the applicant’s prayer. The defendant is entitled to adequate time to prepare his defence, which, of course, must be balanced with the prosecution’s right to reasonable time conclude his case.”
“The applicant is expected to appear in court on the next date. He is also hereby ordered to submit a complete medical report from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.” She adjourned further proceedings till September 19, October 3, and 4.
Tarfa was arraigned by the EFCC on March 9, 2016 and subsequently re-arraigned on November 16, 2016 on an amended charge. The EFCC claimed that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid a total sum of N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s bank account.
He was also accused of paying into Justice Yunusa’s account, N800,000 in three tranches between February 9 and November 30, 2015 and that the payments were to compromise the judges. Tarfa pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance.
