The absence of the counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stalled the trial of a senior lawyer, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), on Thursday.
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An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has ordered a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, charged with perversion of justice to produce his other witnesses to continue with his defence, to avoid stalling the case, due to his ill health.
Melaye, representing Kogi West, was dragged to court on a two-count charge bordering on giving false information, offences he denied committing.
The counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the prosecution had no more witnesses to call in the case.
Daniel, who is the third prosecution witness, told the court that he first gave the defendant a telephone forensic form to fill out, following his arrest in February, 2016
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
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on February 5 arrested Tarfa and confiscated his two mobile phones and his Mercedez Benz SUV with Registration No. KJA 700 CG on the allegation that Tarfa hid two alleged suspects of economic and financial crimes in his car to prevent their arrest
The affidavit, filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the head of his law chambers, John Odubela, reads in part: “The applicant (Mr. Tarfa) did not on 7th January, 2014 bribe Honourable Justice M.N. Yunusa with the sum of N225,000 or any other sum at all
Rather, the statement said it was the counsel of the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who, while objecting to the request of Tarfa to stop his harassment, insinuated that if the request was granted, it would prevent the agency from pressing charges against the applicant
Tarfa, who was arrested on February 5, 2016 by EFCC operatives for allegedly hiding two suspects – Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon – in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle with the intent of shielding them from being arrested, had gone to court seeking to stop his prosecution by the EFCC