Akin Kuponiyi
Rickey Tarfa and Joseph Nwobike
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Rickey Tarfa has been arraigned before a Lagos high court sitting at Igbosere, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on charges of giving gratification to two judges of Federal High Court.
Tarfa was arraigned on twenty-seven count charge bordering on failure to declare his assets, made a false statement and offering of gratification to public official, alleged failure to declare his assets in the declaration of Assets Form administered on him by EFCC when he was arrested.
The EFCC Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that Ricky Tarfa on 10 February, 2016, failed to declare his assets in the declaration of assets form that was issued to him by the agency, when he was arrested.
Tarfa refused to declare his assets and also made a false statement on 5 February, 2016 to Usman Zakari, a senior detective superintendent and officer of the EFCC in the course of the exercise of his duty, by claiming that he is 43 years old.
EFCC also alleged that Tarfa on 27 June, 2012, intentionally gave the sum of N1.5 million to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of a Federal High Court in Lagos, directly from his Zenith Bank Account No 1002926967, in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.
He was further alleged to have intentionally given the same Judge the sum of N500,000, on the same day, in order that the said judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties.
EFCC also stated that the defendant on August 6, 2013, intentionally gave the sum of N500,000 to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court directly from his Zenith Bank Account in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties.
The anti-graft agency further stated that, subsequently the defendant gave money to the Judge as follows: On January 29, 2014, sum of N1.5 million from his account, October 3, 2014 he gave the judge the sum of N835,000.
On December 22, 2014, he gave the Judge the sum of N500,000, in order that the said Judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties, October 27 2015, he intentionally gave the sum of N1.5 million to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court by directly depositing the said sum into Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd’s account No 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to the Judge in order that he acts in the exercise of his official duties.
On December 30, 2015 the defendant also gave the Judge the sum of N500,000 intentionally by directly depositing the said sum into the account of the Judge in order to refrain him from acting in the exercise of his official duties, while sum of N200,000 was given to Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, through Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd’s account No 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc. belonging to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya on November 30, 2015, in order that Justice Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.
The accused Senior Advocate pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Consequently, his lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, leading eleven other lawyers, urged the court to admit Tarfa to bail on self recognition.
While arguing the bail application containing forty-four paragraphs and five exhibits, Chief Ayorinde told the court that Tafar was given administrative bail by the EFCC while another Lagos State high court gave him bail on self recognition.
EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to impose condition that will enable Tarfa to come for trial.
The presiding Judge, Mrs A. A. Akintoye while adjourning the case till 22 March, 2016 for trial admitted Tarfa to bail on self recognition.
Rickey Tarfa arraigned for allegation of offering gratification to judge
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