LAGOS, JUNE 24, 2016 – The trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, was on Thursday stalled due to ill health of the judge, Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.
Tarfa, was on Feb. 16, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of obstructing officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties and offering gratification to the judicial officer.
The judge said that she was in a poor state of health’ and had just suffered a flooded chamber from the rains which even affected some court documents.
She added that some sensitive court files and other documents were soaked by the water.
“I am sorry to disappoint you gentlemen. I am not in a good state of health. I just managed to come here,’ the judge said.
She explained that her court had not sat since this week because the courtroom and the judge’s chamber had been affected by the rains.
“We bailed out four buckets of water from the courtroom. You all saw it. I still cannot sit in my chamber because of the stench,’’ the judge said.
The case was scheduled for the commencement of trial.
Opesanwo, however, adjourned the case till Oct. 24 and 31, for the prosecution to open its case.
The EFCC counsel, Mohammed Abba, had earlier informed the court that the commission had two witnesses in court who were ready to testify.
Counsel to the accused, Mr A. J. Owonikoko, also indicated his client’s preparedness to proceed.
