NBA, others condemn Ricky Tarfa’s arrest by EFCC

ON February 8, 2016 8:30
By Onozure Dania
Lagos —The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and senior lawyers in the country, have
condemned the recent arrest and continued detention of a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, Mr. Rickey-Tarfa, SAN, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
EFCC, since Friday without releasing him on bail.
Former President of the NBA, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu , SAN, commenting on the
issue said; “I think that this is an unfortunate development, a situation where lawyers
are arrested in court while performing their lawful duties, this must be condemned in
unequivocal terms. However, this is the work of an agency, no government can allow
this, especially when you have a senior lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as the
Vice-President, the government will do its best to avoid such things. It is the work of
overzealous agents, we will call on the Vice-President to intervene and ensure his
release.
“Since the NBA President has intervened, they should release him to NBA President
for him to appear on Monday to answer to whatever charges they have against him.
He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he cannot jump bail, This is utter disregard for
the rule of law and the sanctity of the legal profession guaranteed by the
Constitution.”
Another former President of the NBA, Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, said: “ Well,
you see, this is what we face with the current EFCC. Let’s get the facts straight, all
of us who are defending accused persons are now endangered species, all of us are
being investigated by the EFCC, so we are all waiting for the day they will come and
carry us."
Reacting, the law firm, Rickey Tarfa &Co. in a statement signed by its Partner and
Head of Chambers, Mr. John Olusegun Odubela, said: "It is germane to state that the
matter before the court has no bearing with corruption related issue. It is purely
between a husband and wife struggling for the control of a manufacturing company
they jointly promoted.It is purely a matrimonial issue that went sour."