Senior advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Rickey Tarfa and his intimidating arsenal of 136 lawyers lost their bid to stop his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged wilful obstruction of authorised officers to carry out their duties and other offences.
Justice A. A. Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere on Friday, dismissed Tarfa’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court and seeking an order to quash the 27-count charge against him.
Among other counts of the charge are refusing to declare assets, making false information and offering gratification to a public official.
Rickey’s lawyers lost on all the legs of their prayers.
The judge ruled that the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the charges and turned down Tarfa’s prayers for the quashing of the charges.
“This Court has a jurisdiction to entertain the charges on this matter. The prayer of the applicant asking for an order on jurisdiction to entertain charges on this matter is hereby dismissed. The prayer of the applicant asking for an order to quash charges laid before the court is hereby dismissed.
The prayer of the applicant asking the court to restrain EFCC operatives, staff, agents, or any person whatsoever to investigate and prosecute the defendant is hereby refused.
The applicant’s motion on notice on 10th March, 2016 is hereby dismissed accordingly”, he said.
One hundred and thirty six (136) lawyers including 40 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN appeared for the defendant.
Justice Akintoye subsequently adjourned the matter till 20 and 27 May, 2016 for commencement of trial and further hearing.
Tarfa was arraigned on 9 March, 2016 by the EFCC on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged willful obstruction of authorized officers of EFCC, refusing to declare asset, making false information and offering gratification to a public official.