Rickey Tarfa lands Bail as 90 SANs Lead Defense

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa has been granted bail by Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.

Tarfa was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, before the court on 2-count charge of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr. Tarfa pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo had prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in custody.

However, counsel to Mr Tarfa, Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who led a team of over 90 Senior Advocates and other lawyers, said they had filed an application for bail which he said was served on the prosecution on the 10th of February, 2016.

In his application for bail, the defence counsel told the court that the defendant went to court voluntarily and that he was granted administrative bail by EFCC on self-recognition.

He said the defendant was a very senior member of the bar with no criminal record. He said there was nothing to show that the defendant would jump bail.

The prosecution counsel however urged the court to dismiss the application as the offence was grave and prayed for an accelerated hearing.

Justice Opesanwo, in her ruling, granted bail to Mr. Tarfa on self-recognition but ordered that he must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.

The trial judge expressed disappointment at the number of counsels who were in court for the defendant. She noted that there was no need for such magnitude of support as it amounts to harassment and intimidation of the court.

Mr. Akin told later informed the court that he had filed an application to quash the charge.

Mr. Rotimi responded that he had not been served. He was subsequently served by the defence counsel in open court.

Justice Opesanwo adjourned the matter to March 14, for hearing of the application to quash the charge while the substantive case was fixed for April 20, 2016 for trial.