{A Nigerian judge has criticised a lawyer facing criminal charges after he turned up to court in Lagos with a defence team of more than 90 people.}<\/p>\n
Justice Aishat Opesanwo described the approach as tantamount to “harassment and intimidation”, a statement by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency says.<\/p>\n
Prominent lawyer Rickey Tarfa is charged with the obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.<\/p>\n
He denies both sets of charges.<\/p>\n
Mr Tarfa is accused of blocking the arrest of two suspects wanted in a corruption case by keeping them in his car for nearly six hours on 5 February when they were due to be picked up by the authorities, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the case.<\/p>\n
In the second charge, he is accused of perverting the course of justice by communicating through his personal mobile phone with a judge overseeing a trial between the EFCC and two private companies which he was representing.<\/p>\n
Mr Tarfa was granted bail at the hearing and the case has been adjourned until March.<\/p>\n
Source:BBC:[Nigerian judge hits out at man’s 90-lawyer defence team->http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-africa-35595822]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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