A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere on Friday declined to grant an application for stay of proceeding filed by the embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ricky Tarfa.
Tarfa, was arraigned on March 9 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 27-count charge bordering on refusal to declare assets, making false statement, offering gratification to public officer, failure to declare his assets in the assets declaration form.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, counsel to Tarfa, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that he filed an application for stay of proceeding pending the hearing of the appeal at the Court of Appeal.
The counsel urged the court to grant the application, adding that refusal of the application would cause great hardship to the accused.
Owonikoko also said justice would be seen to be done if the application was granted.
Tarfa had filed an appeal against the ruling of the court delivered on April 22, refusing to quash the charges against him and to decline jurisdiction.
However, the Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application and to proceed with the commencement of trial which the court scheduled to do.
Oyedepo said he had two witnesses in court and was ready to proceed with the trial.
Justice A. A. Akintoye ruled that the court would not entertain any stay of proceeding in a criminal case till judgement was delivered.
Akintoye said: “This court will not entertain any stay or defer the proceeding on criminal case until judgement is delivered.
“As a result, the trial will continue today.”
Consequently, Oliver Enwerem, a staff of Access Bank Plc, was called as the first prosecution witness.
Enwerem told the court that EFCC wrote a letter to his Bank and requested the statement of account of Rickey Tafar and Awa Ajah Enterprises Limited.
He said the signatory to the account was one H. A. Nganjiwa and it was a company’s account.
He said on October 27, 2015, a cash sum of N1.5 million was deposited into the account by Tarfa.
Enwerem also said on November 30, 2015, a transfer of N980,000 and another transfer of N200,000 occurred in the account.
The witness said on December 30, 2015, a cash deposit of N500,000 occurred in the account, which was also effected by Tarfa
He also said that on January 8, 2016, there was another cash deposit of N500,000 done by the accused.
Justice Akintoye later adjourned the case till May 27 for continuation of trial.
NAN.
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