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Tag: Rickey Tarfa

  • Ill-health stalls Ricky Tarfa’s trial

    The trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, for alleged perversion of the course of justice before an Igbosere High Court  was yesterday stalled due to his ill health.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa before Justify Adedayo Akintoye.

    During resumed proceeding yesterday, Tarfa’s counsel,  Mr Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that the defendant was in the court’s premises but could not enter the court room due to the severity of his illness.

    Owonikoko told the court that they had filed a medical recommendation notifying the court for medical leave to given to the defendant for a period of three months to enable him recuperate.

    He said that the defendant was in a vehicle inside the court premises.

    At this stage, the prosecuting counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission (EFCC), Mr Usman Buhari and the court’s registrar all went out to the vehicle to see the defendant.

    When they came backi, the EFCC prosecutor, Buhari who stood in for Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that they saw the defendant in the vehicle.

    He also said that the medical report was served on them.

    Buhari said he had no objection for the request of the defendant for time to recuperate.

    The trial judge, Justice Akintoye, advised that the defendant must not travel outside the country without court’s knowledge.

    She adjourned the case until May 8 and 9 for continuation of trial.

    It would be recalled that on the last adjourned date, March 11, the case did not go on because the judge went for an official duty.

    Tarfa’s trial was also stalled on January 21due to his absence in court.

    Tarfa’s counsel, Owonikoko (SAN), had told the court that his client traveled outside the country for medical treatment.

    He said the condition of his client was so bad that he had made to travel for surgical operations.

    The EFCC counsel confirmed to the court that he received the medical report and a letter from the defendant requesting for vacation of trial date to further date.

    He, however, said that the defendant should have come to court to apply for leave to travel before embarking on such a trip.

    EFCC had in the charge claimed that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid a total of N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying into Justice Yunusa’s account, a total of N800,000 in three tranches between Feb. 9 and November 30, 2015.

    The SAN was equally accused of age falsification.

    Upon his arraignment on March 9, 2016 and subsequent re-arraignment on November 16, 2016, Tarfa pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

    The EFCC had since closed its case.

    Tarfa, also opened his defence after the court dismissed the no-case submission he filed.

    Tarfa’s first witness, Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR)of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, was yet to finish his cross-examination.

  • Ricky Tarfa’s ill health stalls trial

    The trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, for alleged perversion of the course of justice before an Igbosere High Court was on Tuesday stalled due to his ill health.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge bordering on offering monetary gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court, Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa before Justify Adedayo Akintoye.

    During resumed proceeding on Tuesday, Tarfa’s counsel, Mr Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that the defendant was in the court’s premises but could not enter the courtroom due to the severity of his illness.

    Owonikoko told the court that they had filed a medical recommendation notifying the court for medical leave to be given to the defendant for a period of three months to enable him recuperate.

    He said that the defendant was in a vehicle inside the court premises.

    At this stage, the prosecuting counsel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Usman Buhari and the court’s registrar all went out to the vehicle to see the defendant.

    When they came back, the EFCC prosecutor, Buhari who stood in for Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that they saw the defendant in the vehicle.

    Read Also: Alleged bribery: Court approves Rickey Tarfa’s medical trip

    He also said that the medical report was served on them.

    Buhari said he had no objection for the request of the defendant for time to recuperate.

    The trial judge, Justice Akintoye, advised that the defendant must not travel outside the country without court’s knowledge.

    She adjourned the case until May 8 and 9 for continuation of trial.

    It would be recalled that on the last adjourned date, March 11, the case did not go on because the judge went for official duty.

    Tarfa’s trial was also stalled on January 21due to his absence in court.

    Tarfa’s counsel, Owonikoko (SAN), had told the court that his client traveled outside the country for medical treatment.

    He said the condition of his client was so bad that he had made to travel for surgical operations.

    The EFCC counsel confirmed to the court that he received the medical report and a letter from the defendant requesting for vacation of trial date to further date.

    He, however, said that the defendant should have come to court to apply for leave to travel before embarking on such a trip.

    EFCC had in the charge claimed that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid a total of N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying into Justice Yunusa’s account, a total of N800,000 in three tranches between Feb. 9 and November 30, 2015.

    The SAN was equally accused of age falsification.

    Upon his arraignment on March 9, 2016 and subsequent re-arraignment on November 16, 2016, Tarfa pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

    The EFCC had since closed its case.

    Tarfa, also opened his defence after the court dismissed the no-case submission he filed.

    Tarfa’s first witness, Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR)of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, was yet to finish his cross-examination.

  • Alleged bribery: Rickey Tarfa’s trial stalled again

    The trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rickey Tarfa, for alleged perversion of justice, failed to resume at a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Monday, for the second time consecutively, following the judge’s absence.
    The Nation learnt that Justice Adedayo Akintoye was away on a conference, alongside several other judges in the Lagos State Judiciary.

    The trial will now resume on March 19.

    Last January 21, proceedings could not get underway following Tarfa’s absence without the court’s permission.
    His counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko SAN, told Justice Akintoye that his client had left the country for urgent medical attention.

    He said Tarfa’s condition “was so bad that he had to travel for surgical operations,” and would be away for three months.

    The three months elapsed on Monday.

    EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed to the court that he received a medical report and a letter from Owonikoko on the issue.

    Oyedepo, however, wondered why the defendant did not seek leave of court before embarking on the trip.

    Justice Akintoye advised the defence to ensure that Tarfa was in court subsequently.

    She said: “I am giving the defendant the benefit of doubt based on the application before the court, he should be in court on the next adjourned date.”

    The court adjourned till Monday for continuation of trial.

    Tarfa was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 9, 2016, on a 26-count charge of offering gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The EFCC alleged that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying N800,000 into Justice Yunusa’s account in three tranches between February 9 and November 30, 2015.

    Read Also: Alleged bribery: Court summons Rickey Tarfa’s witnesses

    The SAN was also accused of age falsification.

    Upon his arraignment on March 9, 2016 and subsequent re-arraignment on November 16, 2016, Tarfa pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self recognizance.

    The EFCC has since closed its case, following which Tarfa opened his defence after the court dismissed his no-case submission he filed.

    The defendant’s first witness, Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR) of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Mr Bello Okandeji, is yet to finish his cross-examination.

  • Alleged bribery: ‘Judge’s bank account’ is mine, says Tarfa’s witness

     

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere on Wednesday heard that an account into which Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Rickey Tarfa deposited N225,000, belongs to a lawyer and not Justice Mohammed Nasir Yinusa.

    Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Mohammed Auwal Yinusa, told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he was shocked to read in the newspapers that his Access Bank account number was quoted as belonging to the judge.

    Yinusa, Tarfa’s former employee between 2011 and 2014, testified as the second defence witness in the SAN’s trial for alleged gratification.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts.

    He was accused of alleged willful obstruction of EFCC officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information to a public officer, by lying about his age.

    According to the EFCC, the Silk paid N225,000 in 2014 into an Access Bank account it said belonged to Federal High Court judge, Justice Yinusa.

    The agency also alleged, among others, that Tarfa offered N5.3 million as gratification to Justice hyeladzira Nganjiwa in order to compromise the judge.

    It claimed that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches between June 27, 2012 and December 23, 2014.

    Tarfa pleaded not guilty.

    On March 13, Justice Akintoye summoned Tarfa’s witnesses so he could open his defence.

    This followed the dismissal of his no-case submission last February 9.

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Tarfa’s counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko SAN, led Yinusa in Examination-in-Chief.

    Yinusa said he left Tarfa’s employ in 2014 for further studies abroad, following which the SAN gifted him N225,000 to support his education.

    He explained that he is the owner of the Access Bank account into which the N225,000 which the EFCC claimed that Tarfa bribed a judge with, was paid, and not Justice Yinusa.

    Yinusa said: “I found that my Access Bank account was quoted in that publication. I was in a state of shock.”

    He added that he rushed to his bank and obtained a certified true copy of his statement of account, which showed that it was indeed his account that was quoted by the EFCC.

    Yinusa said: “I was shocked, my Lord, because I am not a judge, I never received gratification from the defendant. My name is Mohammed Auwal Yinusa. The judge’s name is Mohammed Nasir Yinusa. I am not related to him. He is from Yobe State; I am Igalla from Kogi State. Untill recently when I saw him on television, I had never set my eyes on him.”

    Under cross examination by prosecution counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, Yinusa said other payments the Silk allegedly made to any other judge, were were not made through his bank account.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned till today for re-examination of the witness.

    Earlier, Yinusa’s relationship officer from Access Bank, Abisola Olutade, testified as the first defence witness.

    Her testimony was preceded by a National Judicial Council staff, Olufolake Saleh Ahmed, who tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and a revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of Nigeria.

     

     

  • Court adjourns trial of Justice Yunusa till March 9

    Court adjourns trial of Justice Yunusa till March 9

    The Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday adjourned the trial of a Federal High Court judge, Mohammed Yunusa, charged with corruption, until March 9.

    The court took the decision following a request by the defence for an adjournment to reply an affidavit by the prosecution.

    Yunusa’s lawyer, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), had asked the court for an adjournment to respond to a counter-affidavit filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    Clarke in his submission said “The prosecution yesterday (Monday) served us with a so- called counter-affidavit and written address, we have not had the opportunity to respond.

    “On the face of what was served on us, we do not see the necessity for a counter-affidavit since we did not file an affidavit.

    “In the circumstance, we need time to give a reply to close all facts before Your lordship.

    “We seek to ask for an adjournment which has been foisted on us by the prosecution in order to close all facts placed before us by the prosecution.”

    Mr John Odubela (SAN), defence counsel for Esther Agbo, Yunusa’s co-defendant, agreed with Clarke’s request for an adjournment.

    “We have filed a notice of preliminary objection dated Feb. 13 and we served on the prosecution on Feb. 14 and the prosecution served us a response yesterday at 5.08p.m.

    “We were able to file our reply on points of law this morning; though we are ready, it is still subject to the first defendant’s preliminary objection.

    “We do not have an objection to the adjournment because out of the five-count charge the first defendant has four-counts,” he said.

    Mr Wahab Shittu, the EFCC counsel, however, objected to the requests by the defence, noting that the anti-graft agency was ready to proceed with the trial.

    “Your lordship adjourned till today for hearing as arraignment has been done and in adjourning Your lordship made specific orders for both the prosecution and defence to do.

    “We have filed all our processes as ordered by your lordship and there are two witnesses in court which are ready to proceed.

    “We have also filed all the necessary documents to ensure that this trial goes on its merits,” Shittu said.

    Acceding to the defence counsel’s requests, Justice Sherifat Solebo said:  “This case is adjourned till March 9 at 9.30a.m. to take all the arguments on the two pending preliminary objections.”

    Earlier, Shittu had in an application dated Feb. 9, sought for the change of EFCC prosecuting counsel from Mr A.B.C Ozioko to himself.

    The defence in an objection, noted that the application did not have a counsel’s seal which was not in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Rules of Professional Conduct.

    Shittu, however, told the court that the payment for the seal had been done on May 24, 2017 but the necessary seal had yet to be issued by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Solebo then ruled in favour of EFCC.

    “It is unfair to visit the sin of the NBA on the counsel,” she said.

    EFCC had arraigned Yunusa, a judge of Lagos Division of Federal High Court, alongside Esther Agbo, a staff member of  the law chambers of Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN), on Jan. 17.

    Yunusa was charged on four counts of attempted perversion of the course of justice and corruption by a public official, while Agbo was charged with offering gratification to a public official.

    They, however, denied the charges.

    According  to Mr A.B.C Ozioko, the then EFCC prosecutor, Yunusa had constant and confidential communications with Tarfa, who was handling three lawsuits marked FHC/L/CS/714/2015, FHC/L/CS/715/2015 and FHC/L/CS/716/2015 before him.

    The prosecution alleged that Yunusa collected N1.5 million bribe from Tarfa for the purpose of giving favourable rulings and judgments in the cases.

    The judge is also being accused of receiving N750, 000 from Mr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), between March 2015 and September, 2015, to get “favourable” judgment  in cases.

    The EFCC alleged that Agbo, the second defendant who is an employee of Rickey Tarfa and Co., on May 14, 2015 paid the N1.5 million allegedly from Tarfa into Yunusa’s UBA account number 1005055617.

    The prosecutor said the offences violated Sections 64(1)(a) and 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    NAN

  • Rickey Tarfa has case to answer — Court 

    Rickey Tarfa has case to answer — Court 

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere yesterday dismissed the no-case submission made by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Rickey Tarfa.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye ruled that the prosecution – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – had established essential elements of the offences it brought against Tarfa.

    The judge noted that the justice of the case thus requires that the court should demand some explanation from the defendant in respect of the charge.

    She ordered Tarfa to enter his defence on the next adjourned date, March 13, 2018.

    Justice Akintoye also dismissed a claim filed by the Learned  Silk seeking N520 million from the EFCC as damages for alleged malicious prosecution.

    The judge described it as unmeritorious.

    The EFCC arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts.

    He was accused of the alleged willful obstruction of authorised EFCC officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information to a public officer, by lying about his age.

    The agency also alleged, among others, that the lawyer offered N5.3million gratification to Justice Nganjiwa in order to compromise the judge.

    Tarfa pleaded not guilty.

    Last January 17, the Silk, through his counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), made a no-case submission asking the court to dismiss the charge because it was malicious.

    He prayed the court to make an example of the anti-graft agency and “slam the hammer” on it with a N500m damages award.

    ”The specific ingredients were not proven. It is not as if the prosecution did not make an attempt, but that the attempt was so woeful,” Owonikoko submitted.

    But the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, opposed Tarfa’s no-case submission, “because it amounts to contesting the obvious.”

    According to  Oyedepo, Tarfa misconstrued the no-case submission.

    However, in her ruling yesterday, Justice Akintoye upheld the prosecution’s argument that a prima facie case had been made against the defendant.

    The judge said: “What is expected of this court at this stage of no-case submission is to look at the evidence adduced so far and determine whether a prima facie case has been disclosed against the defendant.

    “At this stage also the prosecution is not required to have established its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant as the guilt of the defendant is not in issue at this stage.

    “I have carefully evaluated the evidence so far, with the totality of evidence adduced before this honourable court, it is my opinion that the prosecution has established the essential elements of the alleged offences with which the defendant is charged.

  • Rickey Tarfa seeks N500m damages from EFCC

    Rickey Tarfa seeks N500m damages from EFCC

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rickey Tarfa, is seeking N500million from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as damages for alleged malicious prosecution.

    Tarfa made the application yesterday in a no-case submission he filed before the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, in response to the EFCC’s criminal charge against him.

    The lawyer, through his counsel Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told Justice Adedayo Akintunde that the 26-count charge of alleged bribery and attempt to pervert the course of justice was malicious.

    He prayed the court to make an example of the anti-graft agency and “slam the hammer” on it with a N500m damages award.

    Tarfa has been standing trial before the judge since March 2016.

    Last October 23, the anti-graft agency closed its case against the defendant following which he indicated his intention to file a no-case submission.

    At yesterday’s proceedings, Owonikoko poked holes in the commission’s claims that Tarfa “refused and failed” to declare his assets, contrary to the EFCC Act.

    According to him, Tarfa was entirely within his constitutional right to remain silent.

    On the allegation in count three that the defendant lied about his age during interrogation on February 5, 2016 at the commission’s Lagos office, Owonikoko distinguished between falsehood and a mistake.

    According to him, Tarfa made a mistake, which the EFCC ought to have drawn his attention to, rather than springing a surprise on him by making the mistake a basis for a criminal charge.

    Owonikoko also contested the charge that the defendant offered gratification to Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa.

    He submitted, among others, that the EFCC failed to link to Justice Nganjiwa, the deposits made by Tarfa to the accounts of a firm, Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd.

    According to him, Tarfa “has never handled a case before Justice Nganjiwa.”

    Justifying the claim for N500m as damages, he said the defendant’s reputation and occupation had suffered:

    But EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo opposed Tarfa’s no-case submission, “because it amounts to contesting the obvious.”

    “I am passionately urging my lord to dismiss this application and call on the defendant to explain the allegations that we have proved against him.”

     

  • EFCC arraigns Justice Yunusa for ‘perversion of justice’

    EFCC arraigns Justice Yunusa for ‘perversion of justice’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a Federal High Court judge, Justice Yunusa Nasir, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, over alleged perversion of justice.

    Justice Nasir was arraigned alongside a staff of Rickey Tarfa Chamber, Esther Agbor, before Justice Sherifat Solebo.

    While Justice Nasir is standing trial on a three- count charge of receiving gratification and perversion of justice Agbor is facing a one count charge of offering gratification.

    EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Anslem Ozioko, alleged that the judge while serving as a judicial officer attempted to pervert the course of justice by constantly engaging in private and confidential text message conversations with Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a matter before him.

    He said Agbo gave gratification of N1, 500,000.00 to the judge to induce him to give favourable decision to the chamber in the matter before him.

    One of the counts against Justice Nasir stated: “That you,  Yunusa Mohammed Nasir, between February and September, 2015 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a public official to wit: a Judge of the Federal High Court attempted to pervert the course of justice by engaging in constant private and confidential telephone communication with Rickey Tarfa (SAN), counsel to the applicants in: (1) Suit No. FHC/L/CS/714/2015 between Mr. Adewale Adeniyi v EFCC & 2 Others, (ii) Suit No. FHC/L/CS/7 15/20 1 5 between Rena Prestige Industries Ltd & Anor. v. EFCC & 2 Others, (iii) Suit No. FHC/ L/ C S/ 7 1 6 / 2 0 1 5 between Hair Prestige Manufacturing Nigeria Ltd & 3 Others v EFCC & 2 Others during the period you presided over the said suits as a Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.”

    Another of the count reads: “That you,  Yunusa Mohammed Nasir, on or about the 14th May, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court being a public official to wit: a Judge of the Federal High Court agreed to receive the sum of N1,500,000 (One million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) paid into your UBA Plc Account No. 1005055617 by Esther Agbo, staff of the firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co. in order to afterwards give decisions in favour of the chambers of Rickey Tarfa & Co. in cases handled by the said chambers before you as a Judge of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.”

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Commission.

  • Alleged bribery: EFCC closes case against Rickey Tarfa

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Rickey Tarfa for alleged bribery and unlawful obstruction of public officers.

    Prosecution counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo yesterday told Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere that the anti-graft agency had exhausted its six witnesses.

    The trial began in March 2016.

    Responding, Tarfa’s counsel, Mr. Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable the defence analyse its case before taking its next step.

    Consequently, Justice Akintoye adjourned till November 16, to hear from the defence.

    The EFCC arraigned Tarfa on March 10, 2016 on a 27-count charge which was subsequently amended to 26 counts.

    He was accused of alleged willful obstruction of authorised EFCC officials, refusal to declare assets and giving false information to a public officer.

    The agency also alleged, among others, that the lawyer offered N5.3million gratification to Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Lagos to compromise the judge.

    It claimed that Tarfa transferred the money in several tranches to Justice Nganjiwa between June 27, 2012 and December 23, 2014.

    Tarfa pleaded not guilty.

     

     

  • ‘Rickey Tarfa refused to declare age seven times’

    ‘Rickey Tarfa refused to declare age seven times’

    AN Igbosere High Court, Lagos, yesterday heard how Chief Rickey Tarfa, SAN allegedly refused to declare his age to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A witness, Zakari Usman from the EFCC Special Task Force Unit testified that Tarfa refused to state his age seven times during his investigation for alleged obstruction of the agency’s operatives.

    He testified during a viewing by the court of the video tendered by the commission in support of its case against the defendant.

    Tarfa was arrested on February 9, 2016, for allegedly hiding two suspects – Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise – in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), thereby shielding them from being arrested and obstructing justice.

    He was arraigned on March 10, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to a 27-count charge, which was subsequently amended to 26.

    The agency alleged, among others, that the lawyer offered N5.3million gratification to Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Lagos to compromise the judge.

    Usman, the fourth prosecution witness, was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo. Oluyele Delano and Abiodun Owonikoko, both SANs, represented the defendant.

    The witness testified that the assets declaration form issued to Tarfa by the agency had a column requiring age declaration in seven places, but the senior advocate left all the spaces blank.

    He said the defendant also failed to declare his assets contrary to Section 7(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act.

    He told Justice Adedayo Akintoye he and three other EFCC operatives were present when the defendant failed to make the required entries in the assets declaration form.

    Usman narrated how he was assigned to investigate a complaint against Tarfa on February 5, 2016, through a letter sent to his team.

    His team, he added, wrote a letter to GTBank, and information contained in the bank’s response showed the defendant’s date of birth as February 23, 1950.

    The prosecution also played a video in court, titled: “Rickey Tarfa’s refusal”, which allegedly showed the defendant’s alleged refusal to fill the form.

    Usman said the agency made the video on February 10, 2016, during its interrogation of the defendant.

    He identified the four persons in the video as himself, Mohammed Gali, Danladi and the defendant.

    “I was there when the defendant failed to filled the assets form,” Usman said.

    Justice Akintoye adjourned till June 19 for continuation of trial.