Alleged bribery: Court summons Rickey Tarfa’s witnesses

The court signed a subpoena for their appearance following an application by Tarfa through his counsel, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko. The witnesses, who were not identified, are required to appear before Justice Adedayo Akintoye on the next adjourned date of March 22. Tarfa was due to open his defence on Tuesday following the dismissal of his no-case submission on  February 9. In that ruling, Justice Akintoye found as unmeritorious Tarfa’s claim of N520 million from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as damages for malicious prosecution. The judge ordered the defendant to open his case on the next adjourned date. But proceedings stalled when Owonikoko told the judge that the witnesses declined involvement in the case unless by an official invitation. Owonikoko said the subpoena had just been signed. He prayed the court to adjourn so that the witnesses could be served. The EFCC counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, did not object to the request. The Commission arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts. He was accused of alleged willful obstruction of authorised EFCC officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information to a public officer by lying about his age.]]>