Lawyer's move to stall bribery trial fails

dimeji akinloye

May 20, 2016 7:47 PM

EFCC arraigned Tarfa in March for allegedly offering a N5.3 million bribe to a judge of the Federal High Court.

Rickey Tarfa SAN

Justice A

The judge threw out the application at the commencement of proceedings on Friday, May 20.

In the application, Tarfa's counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), asked the court to stay proceedings until the Court of Appeal decides an appeal on the matter.

Tarfa was on March 10, 2016, arraigned by the EFCC for allegedly offering a N5.3 million bribe to a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, in order to compromise the judge.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches to the judge and that the offence was contrary to Section 64 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No.11, 2011.

READ: 'EFCC out to embarrass me,' Tarfa says

The charge also included allegations of wilful obstruction of authorised EFCC officials, refusal to declare assets and making false information.

dimeji akinloye