The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday refused to grant an application stopping the arraignment of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Rickey Tarfa.
Justice Mohammed Idris held that he lacks jurisdiction to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arraigning him.
The commission charged Tarfa with unlawful obstruction of investigation and perversion of the course of justice before Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.
No fewer than 34 SANs enlisted to represent Tarfa, but six of them were in court on Friday, namely Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, Mr. Babajide Koku, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, Mr. Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu.
They brought an application praying the court to order the release of Tarfa’s phone and vehicle allegedly seized by EFCC.
Tarfa also filed a N2.5billion suit against the EFCC on February 9, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
Ayorinde urged Justice Idris to make a consequential order that parties should maintain status quo.
But EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed the application, saying such an order would restrain the EFCC from arraigning Tarfa.
”I will urge Your Lordship not to hearken to that prayer. As of today, the applicant before Your Lordship is to be arraigned before your learned brother Honourable Justice Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court next week Thursday. The defendant has been notified to produce the applicant on that date.
“If Your Lordship makes an order to maintain the status quo, then the honourable court would be crippling the defendant from arraigning the applicant,” Oyedepo argued.
He said Ayorinde’s application was designed to frustrate Tarfa’s arraignment.
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