Court grants Rickey Tarfa time to recuperate

Justice Adedayo Akintoye of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Friday granted Rickey Tarfa (SAN) more time to recuperate from his surgery.

Justice Akintoye gave the order following an application by Tarfa’s counsel, Jelili Owonikoko, praying the court for more time for his client to recuperate.

Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa. He is also standing trial for alleged justice perversion.
Tarfa has not attended court proceedings since January 21 when he travelled abroad for a medical emergency and has always stayed inside his vehicle during court proceedings.

According to his counsel, Tarfa was unable to climb the staircase leading to Justice Akintoye’s courtroom, even on a wheelchair because of the severity of his condition.

On March 19, Owonikoko filed a medical recommendation from Tarfa’s doctors which stated that the defendant requires a minimum of three months medical leave to enable him recuperate and on May 31, he filed another application seeking an extension of his recovery time.

But, the judge ordered that a medical report on his health from a general or a teaching hospital be provided before the hearing of the application. At the resumed hearing on Friday, Tarfa, who was represented by John Odubela (SAN), said the defendant has carried out the court’s orders.

“We have provided sufficient evidence surrounding the circumstances of the defendant’s, ill health, among other things” Odubela said, explaining that Tarfa has succumbed to unexpected complications in his recovery as he is going through so much pain.

He added that the doctor who performed the operation had to be brought back and that the doctor has recommended daily physiotherapy sections and consequently, prayed the court to discountenance the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, U.U. Buhari’s objection.

In her ruling, Justice Akintoye held that having taken all the factors into consideration, “I am inclined to grant the applicant’s prayer. The defendant is entitled to be giving adequate time to prepare his defence which of course, must be balanced with the prosecution’s right to reasonable time to conclude its case.”

She adjourned the case until September19 for further hearing.