Tarfa: I paid N225,000 to Justice Yunusa’s namesake

Rickey Tarfa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has told a federal high court in Lagos that the controversial N225,000 was paid into the account of Muhammed Yunusa, his former employee, and not that of Justice Mahmud Yunusa.

In February, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Tarfa for allegedly shielding two of his clients from justice.

The anti-graft agency, which seized his phones during the arrest, alleged that it obtained information which showed that Tarfa paid the money into an Access Bank account belonging to the judge.

But Tarfa instituted a N2. 5 billion enforcement rights suit against the anti-corruption agency and Ibrahim Magu, its chairman.

However,  Tarfa’s former employee presented an affidavit in court to claim that he was the person whom the lawyer paid the money to.

Bolaji Ayorinde, Tarfa’s lead counsel, asked the court to allow him present the new evidence on the issue.

But EFCC represented by Wahab Shittu, its counsel, opposed the request.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Idris granted the application, saying the EFCC will suffer no injury if Tarfa’s affidavit was allowed.

“In the interest of justice a party should be allowed to bring any evidence or material that would aid his case,” Idris held.