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Nigerian Lawyer Rickey Tarfa Freshly Charged With Bribing Public Officials

He reportedly gave millions of Naira to federal judge Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya, violating Section 64(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Act of 2011. Mr. Tarfa also gave N2m to federal judge Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against a Nigerian senior lawyer, Rickey Tarfa at the High Court of Lagos State. The 26-count indictment obtained by SaharaReporters accuses Mr. Tarfa of bribing public officials.

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He reportedly gave millions of Naira to federal judge Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya, violating Section 64(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Act of 2011. Mr. Tarfa also gave N2m to federal judge Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa.

It will be recalled that Mr. Tarfa was charged by the EFCC in February for obstructing justice in an anti-corruption investigation. 

The EFCC was investigating Granhoue Sourou Nazaire, one of Mr. Tarfa’s clients who was suing Rachidatou Abdou over ownership and control of a company of which they were both directors. Mrs. Abdou informed police that Mr. Tarfa was communicating with Justice Yunusa, who had been presiding over the case, in an attempt to "pervert the course of justice.” SaharaReporters obtained these phone records, confirming Mrs. Abdou’s statements. Mr. Tarfa was subsequently charged with two counts of obstruction of justice by the EFCC at a Lagos High Court.

The fresh charges against Tarfa follow a series of court filings by the EFCC at a different civil lawsuit instituted by the lawyer to contest his arrest and prosecution by the anti-corruption agency.

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Corruption Legal