October 23, 2017

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday closed its case in the trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at an Igbosere High Court, Lagos, over alleged bribery and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the prosecution had no more witnesses to call in the case.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had called six witnesses, who testified against Tarfa in the trial that began in March 2016.

Responding to Oyedepo, Tarfa’s counsel, Mr Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable the defence to analyse its case and decide on the step to take.

Consequently, Justice Adedayo Akintoye adjourned until Nov.16 to hear from the defence.

The EFCC had first arraigned Tarfa on March 9, 2016 on a 27-count charge bordering on offering of gratification to some judges and perversion of the course of justice.

The anti-graft agency alleged, for instance, that Tarfa offered N5.3 million gratification to a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, to `compromise’ the judge.

The agency also claimed that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches to the judge between June 27, 2012 and Dec. 23, 2014.

The EFCC alleged that the SAN lied about his age and failed to declare his assets to the commission upon his arrest on Feb. 5, 2015.

The offences contravened Section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

But Tarfa pleaded not guilty on all the counts.

He, subsequently, sought to quash the charges on the argument that they were incompetent, but Justice Akintoye dismissed his application which made Tarfa to go on appeal.

NAN also recalls that the EFCC later reduced the 27 counts to 26 counts and substituted Section 38(2) for Section 39(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004 which led to Tarfa’s re-arraignment on Nov.16, 2016.