Why Rickey Tarfa gave Justice Yunusa #225,000.

Rickey Tarfa (SAN), has explained why he gave #225,000 to a Judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa.


Tarfa's position was contained in an affidavit he swore to on the issue, which came from charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.


He said the money he gave to Justice Yunusa was too cover part of the funeral expensive of the judge's father-in-law, Alhaji Audi Garba Damasa. Tarfa said it was his own contribution and those of other friends of Yunusa towards the burial.


The affidavit, filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the head of his law chambers, John Odubela, reads in part: "The applicant, Mr Tarfa did not on 7th January, 2014 bribe Honourable Justice M.N Yunusa with the sum of #225,000 or any other sum at all.


"It was common knowledge in legal circles that Honourable Justice M.N Yunusa lost his father-in-law, Alhaji Audi Garba Damasa on the 28th December, 2013 in Maiduguri and travelled there to attend the funeral rites.


"The applicant and some friends of Honourable Justice M.N. Yunusa made some donations towards the said funeral rites and to commiserate with him in Maiduguri, where he was stayed for a while.


"The contributed monies amounted to #225,000, which sum was given to the applicant with the responsibility to get same across to the bereaved judge.


"The applicant consequently made arrangements to forward the sum #225,000.


"I know as a fact that it is common in Nigeria for friends and kind to people who are celebrating or bereaved."
- The Eagle Online