TRULY SENIOR LAWYERS SURPORT CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: 90 SAN REPRESENT RICKEY TARFA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned a senior lawyer, Rickey Tarfa, before Justice Aishat Opesanwo of Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, on 2-count charge of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr. Tarfa pleaded not guilty to both counts.

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

However, Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who led a team of over 90 Senior Advocates and other lawyers to represent Mr. Tarfa, 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.

However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application as the offence was grave. He urged the court to dismiss the application and order 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 bemoaned the number of counsel 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.

Soon after the ruling, Mr. Akintola told 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.

Mr. Ricky Tarfa, SAN, is accused of willfully obstructing two officers of the EFCC, Moses Awolusi and Sanusi Mohammed from arresting Gnanhooue Sourou and Nazaire Odeste, who were suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes in contravention of Section 38(2) (a) of the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004.

Also, he is alleged to have engaged in improper communication with Justice M. Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos between May 11 and June 25, 2015 while the case between the EFCC and two others was pending before the judge.

Count 1:
“That You Rickey Tarfa (SAN) on or about the 5th day of February, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, wilfully obstructed Moses Awolusi and Sanusi Mohammed, authorized officer of Economic and Financial Crime Commission from arresting GNANHOUE SOUROU and NAZAIRE ODESTE who were reasonably suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes by keeping the said suspects in your car between 11.00 hours to 16: 30 hours”

Count 2:
“RICKEY TARFA (SAN) between 11th of May and 25th of June, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court attempted to pervert the course of justice by communicating with Hon. Justice M.N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court through your mobile Telephone No. 08034600000 whilst suit No: FHC/L/CS/715/2015 between Rana Prestige Industries Nigeria and EFCC and Suit No: FHC/L/CS/716 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria and EFCC filed by you on behalf of the applicants in the two suits seeking to retrain the commission from performing its statutory duties were pending before the said judge”

.PREMIUM TIMES REPORTAGE

BIRTHDAY; YETUNDE 'BUSTLINE' ODUWOLE IS 45

  UK based socialite Yetunde Bustline Oduwole, is 45. She celebrated her 45th birthday on Sunday February 14, with family and few friends.

See more photos and what Yetunde wrote below:

Another year, another new song...amidst the whirlwind and in the eye of the storm, God stormed the battle ground for me; fought the wars for my sake and made me a pillar of fire in the eye of the enemies! 

Each time I add another year; I marvel at God's love for me. Sparing my life means there's still hope for me! My mouth is filled with so much testimonies that I cannot begin to list...I am the living proof that the love of God is real! 

My joy is sooooooo full!
Happy Birthday to me and to all my birthday mates across the world who share this special day of love with me. 

A happy Valentine's day to you... you....and you! I love you all! Let's make love and not war....let's love and not loathe..

NOLLYWOOD SHA ! TOYIN AIMAKHU'S EX ADENIYI JOHNSON MOVED ON....

 One man’s food is another man’s poison!  Nollywood actress - Nkechi 'B' Sunday might just be claiming her right on  Adeniyi Johnson , Toyin Aimakhu's estranged Husband.

That's if there's really something going on between them. She shared some pretty close photos of both them on her Instagram page but took it down after a while. But not before screenshots were taken of course.Nkechi celebrated her birthday on Val's Day and Adeniyi Johnson was present at the house party. See more photos after the cut....

HAFSAT ABIOLA RE-APPOINTED AS SPECIAL ADVIVER TO OGUN STATE GOVERNOR

 Late Chief Moshood Abiola daughter, Hafsat Abiola was re-appointed as Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

"Really happy to be called to serve again! Hope we can work together to make a difference in the lives of the good people of Ogun State and offer Nigeria a viable development model." She wrote on her Facebook page.

Hafsat shared photos of the swearing in today. She was sworn in along with three other Special Advisers. Also pictured are her Uncle, Baba Rere, and her immediate younger brother, Jamiu who both came to represent her family.

POLICE INTERCEPTS 33 BAG OF INDIAN HEMP AND 34 BASKETS OF HARD DRUGS IN KADUNA

 The Kaduna State Police Command has intercepted 33 bags of Indian hemp and 34 baskets of hard drugs from various suspects in Kaduna town.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu, who displayed the drugs before newsmen, said the police arrested over 150 suspects who were presently being prosecuted in courts.The Commissioner added that the Police also recovered 10 bags of Indian hemp in ‘Bacco Bags’, 10 cartoons of hard drugs and 17 jerrycans of liquid toxicant acid.

Shehu, who thanked Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for steering the campaign against illicit drugs said:

"As you can see, we recorded this achievement in Kaduna town where we intercepted these drugs. We will continue to do our best in containing this menace in view of the negative consequences of drugs in the society. Hard drugs are a strong motivation to crime, rape and other vices and we will continue to do our best without a break. As you know, the government of Kaduna state under the leadership of Governor El-Rufai has been supportive and we are grateful." He explained that the Command would hand over the intercepted drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 Governor El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan who represented the state government said;"Kaduna state government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai will continue to support security agencies in the campaign against hard drugs and other acts undermining law and order in the state"

MUST READ: REASONS FOR AFFIRMING AKWA IBOM - DELTA -OYO AND YOBE ELECTIONS - SUPREME COURT

Justice Chima Nweze, who gave the reasons, said that the decision of the lower court was a mis-judgment based on only facts and not on the provisions of the laws.

Nweze said the decisions of the lower court swayed the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of card readers for the election.

He further held that the lower court denied the governor fair hearing.

“From the study of the evidence brought before us Udom Emmanuel won the highest lawfully cast votes.

“This has placed the court to set aside the judgments of the two lower courts as the other parties challenging his victory could prove otherwise.

“The lower courts were wrong to have cancelled elections in 18 and subsequently the entire 31 Local Government Areas of the state on the basis of non-compliance,’’ he held.

“While we commend the introduction of the card readers, the innovation, however, cannot supersede the voters register.

“The extant laws of the federation provides for the use of voters register but the card reader irrespective of its importance does not have a place in any extant law of the land,’’ Nweze held.

Nweze, therefore, held that the tribunal was wrong to base it judgment on non-compliance with the use of card readers.

On allegation of violence and irregularities during the election, Nweze said Umana Umana and the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to prove the allegations.

“The two respondents were not able to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt because they failed to bring witnesses from all the polling units to substantiate their claims,’’ Nweze said.

Nweze held that to prove non-accreditation, the respondents ought to have tendered the voters register and then demonstrate it how it was abused.

“I do align myself to earlier decision of the apex court that the provision of the law recognises the voters register as the only key element to conduct any elections,” he said.

While noting that INEC had power to make subsidiary regulations regarding conduct of election, Nweze held that the regulations must conform to constitutional provisions.

Nweze held that the extant laws did not give room for arbitrary nullification of an election.

“Petitioners have got to prove that there was substantial non-compliance in all polling units before we could take such allegation serious,” he said.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had nullified the Akwa Ibom governorship election of April 11.

The governor’s election was challenged by the APC and its candidate, Umana.

At the election tribunal, the governor secured partial victory, as it ordered a rerun in 18 out of the state’s 31 local government areas.

The governor challenged the ruling, insisting he won in all 31 local government areas, but the Court of Appeal went on to nullify the entire election.

Justices Mary Peter-Odili and Clara Ogunbiyi had hinged on the above reasons to justify the return of Delta,Yobe and Oyo States governors.

 (NAN)

PHOTOS: FEMALE ACCIDENT VICTIM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED

 According to Irekhore Raymond, the woman (according to ID Emunjeze Felicia Miss) was involved in an accident between Iruekpen and Ugbiyaya in Edo State on February 13. She is a staff of the Nigerian Law School in Yenagoa Bayelsa State. Anyone with useful information should respond as soon as possible.