The trial of Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was on Monday stalled due to the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide the defence team necessary documents required for the trial.
The anti-graft agency had dragged Tarfa before the court for allegedly preventing its officers from arresting some suspects, Nadir Odeste and Gnanhoue of Rane Prestige Nig Ltd and Hair Prestige Nig. Ltd at the premises of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere.
At the hearing of the matter before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, counsel to the prosecution, Abba Mohammed, tendered before the court petition written by the prosecution witness, Awolusi Moses, intimating the deputy director of operation, how the defendant allegedly prevented the arrest of the suspects.
Defence counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), however, objected to the tendering of the document on the ground that it was not included in the proof of evidence filed before the court by the prosecution.
“The petition written by the PW1 was not front loaded in the proof of evidence of the prosecution. The EFCC adopted a tactics of trial by ambush as we are never aware of the petition as part of proof of evidence contrary to standard rule of criminal procedure,” he said.
He added: “The whole world is watching the trial, more so the EFCC has finished the trial on the pages of newspaper and now cannot continue in court. We are shocked that since the last adjournment, prosecution has not done the needful to commence trial.”
Owonikoko further said his client has been out of practice as a result of the trial that is why we are ready to speed up the trial without delay.
Justice Opesanwo berated the EFCC, adding that the matter is of public importance and interest.
She added that the court vacated other matters earlier scheduled for Monday to hear the matter but it was obvious the agency “was not prepared for this trial”.
She therefore adjourned the matter till October 31, 2016 for the “prosecution to put its house in order”.
