* As commission releases Tarfa from custody A prominent law firm, Rickey Tarfa & Co, has stated that all the allegations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and their Principal partner, Rickey Tarfa, are lies as he never, in any way, obstructed the course of justice nor did he do anything that is alien to the legal practice, describing as illegal and unconstitutional, the arrest and subsequent incarceration of Tarfa. The chambers made this assertion in a release signed by John Olusegun Odubela, the partner and Head of Chambers, adding that there is no justification for the vindictive arrest of Tarfa while performing his legal duties “Rickey Tarfa & Co has been watching with consternation, the unfolding drama perpetrated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the unconstitutional arrest and incarceration of our Principal Partner and Head of Practice, Mr Rickey Tarfa, while he was performing his professional duties on Friday, February 5, 2016 at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere, Lagos. “Rickey Tarfa and Rickey Tarfa & Co. will never be party to the agents who obstruct the course of justice as the action of the EFCC makes a mockery of the legal profession. There is no law that justifies the vindictive arrest of a person in the court premises, more so a Minister in the temple of justice, just as no law supports the arrest of a legislator in the hallowed Chambers of the Legislature.” According to the release, the chambers for avoidance of doubt, needs to put it in the public domain that, “contrary to the blatant lies dished out by the EFCC, Mr. R. Tarfa was at the Lagos High Court in continuation of his professional duty to defend his clients, Ghanhoue Sourous Nazaire and Zenou Modeste,” both of whom are Beninoise nationals and had been charged to Court on allegations of forgery of their company resolution and Form CA7, in a charge delineated LD/1709C/15; resulting from a matrimonial dispute. They said Rickey Tarfa,, had led Messrs John Olusegun Odubela, Mumuni Bamidele and Grant Onwuka before Hon. Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi (Mrs) to court to continue the defense of the clients in the trial fixed for Friday, February 5th, 2016. “It is pertinent that, up till the time of the Gestapo like tactics deployed by the EFCC, on Friday, our clients had been enjoying court bail and the EFCC bail, hence the issue of jumping bail was out of the question. It thus borders on extreme mischief to insinuate that issue of jumping bail, or resisting lawful arrest was at the heart of the show of shame enacted by EFCC operatives at Lagos High court premises on Friday, 5th of February, 2016. “Going by the court proceedings of the day in question (Friday, 5 February, 2016) evidenced by the Certified True Copy (C.T.C) duly checked by the court’s Registrar, Oyenoye Tope, one G. C. Akaogu Esq., prosecution counsel informed the court that the defense team had served him with some processes and he would need time to respond to the said processes. R. Tarfa, confirmed the statement of Akaogu Esq, adding that, the prosecution had been harassing the 1st and 2nd Defendants (Gnanhoue Sourou Zanaire and Zenou Modeste) by inviting them for further investigation on the on-going trial.” Tarfa was said to have urged the court to intervene in the complaint of ceaseless harassment by EFCC despite the pendency of the charge. Though, Mr Akaogu Esq, denied the invitation by the agency and the court adjourned the application of the defendants for hearing on its merit to February 19, 2016. “True to R. Tarfa’s fears, however, the operatives of the EFCC swooped on his clients while in the court room and whisked them away. At the same time, Mr. R. Tarfa was arrested along with them and forced to drive in their convoy to the EFCC under armed police escort. The EFCC operatives said he (R. Tarfa) too was under arrest for “obstructing the course of justice.” It is germane to state that the matter before the court has no bearing with corruption related issue. It is purely between a husband and wife struggling for control of a manufacturing company they jointly promoted. it is purely a matrimonial issue that went sour,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Mr Tarfa was released from EFCC custody. He was seen leaving the commission’s office in company with the president, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Augustine Alegeh.]]>