By Chinyere Omeire
#TrackNigeria: The trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, charged with perversion of the course of justice before an Igbosere High Court in Lagos, was on Tuesday stalled because of his ill-health.
Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa.
The senior advocate is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday, his counsel, Mr Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that Tarfa was in the court’s premises but could not enter the courtroom due to the severity of his illness.
He told the court that he had notified it about a medical recommendation of three months’ leave for the defendant to enable him to recuperate.
He said that the defendant was in a vehicle inside the court premises.
Consequently, a team of EFCC counsel headed by Mr Usman Buhari, and the court’s registrar went to the vehicle to see the defendant.
When they came back, Buhari told the court that they saw the defendant in the vehicle.
He also said that the medical report had been served on the EFCC team, adding that the prosecution had no objection to more time being given to the defendant to recuperate.
Justice Adedayo Akintoye, however, ordered that the defendant must not travel outside the country without the court’s knowledge.
She adjourned the case until May 8 for continuation of trial.
On the last adjourned date, March 11, the trial did not go on because the judge was on another official duty and on Jan. 21, the trial did not go on because of the absence of the defendant.
Tarfa’s counsel, Owonikoko, had told the court that his client travelled outside the country for medical treatment.
EFCC counsel confirmed to the court that he received the medical report and a letter from the defendant requesting for vacation of trial date for a further date.
He, however, said that the defendant should have come to court to apply for leave to travel before embarking on such a trip.
EFCC claims that between June 27, 2012, and Jan. 8, 2016, Tarfa paid a total of N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.
The EFCC also accused him of paying into Justice Yunusa’s account, a total of N800,000 in three tranches between Feb. 9, 2015, and Nov. 30, 2015.
The SAN was equally accused of age falsification.On arraignment on March 9, 2016, and subsequent re-arraignment on Nov. 16, 2016, Tarfa, however, pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail on self-recognition.
The EFCC had since closed its case.Tarfa began defence after the court dismissed a no-case submission he made.
The first defence witness, a Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, has yet to conclude evidence. (NAN)
