Alleged bribery: Court summons Rickey Tarfa’s witnesses

A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere on Tuesday summoned
defence witnesses in the alleged bribery trial of Senior Advocate
of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa.

The court signed a subpoena for their appearance following an
application by Tarfa through his counsel, Mr. Abiodun
Owonikoko.

The witnesses, who were not identified, are required to appear
before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on the next adjourned date of March
22.

Tarfa was due to open his defence on Tuesday following the
dismissal of his no-case submission on  February 9.

In that ruling, Justice Akintoye found as unmeritorious Tarfa’s
claim of N520 million from the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) as damages for malicious prosecution.

The judge ordered the defendant to open his case on the next
adjourned date.

But proceedings stalled when Owonikoko told the judge that the
witnesses declined involvement in the case unless by an official
invitation.

Owonikoko said the subpoena had just been signed.

He prayed the court to adjourn so that the witnesses could be
served.

The EFCC counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, did not object to the
request.

The Commission arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count
charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts.

He was accused of alleged willful obstruction of authorised EFCC
officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information
to a public officer by lying about his age.

A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere on Tuesday summoned
defence witnesses in the alleged bribery trial of Senior Advocate
of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa.

The court signed a subpoena for their appearance following an
application by Tarfa through his counsel, Mr. Abiodun
Owonikoko.

The witnesses, who were not identified, are required to appear
before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on the next adjourned date of March
22.

Tarfa was due to open his defence on Tuesday following the
dismissal of his no-case submission on  February 9.

In that ruling, Justice Akintoye found as unmeritorious Tarfa’s
claim of N520 million from the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) as damages for malicious prosecution.

The judge ordered the defendant to open his case on the next
adjourned date.

But proceedings stalled when Owonikoko told the judge that the
witnesses declined involvement in the case unless by an official
invitation.

Owonikoko said the subpoena had just been signed.

He prayed the court to adjourn so that the witnesses could be
served.

The EFCC counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, did not object to the
request.

The Commission arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count
charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts.

He was accused of alleged willful obstruction of authorised EFCC
officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information
to a public officer by lying about his age.