RICKEY TARFA A STAR FROM THE NORTH IS 47.
BY: EMMANUEL Y. KWACHE
Hurray, Rickey Mustapha Tarfa, the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Adamawa State (2001), has through dint of hard work become one of the nation’s most respected, regarded and famous legal practitioners and notary’s public. From his humble background in Garkika, Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Tarfa has risen to become a reference point, a phenomenon in the legal profession.
His determination to be a legal practitioner was not by accident. He was well prepared for the herculean task ahead of him thus after graduating from the Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island in 1987, by the next year; he established Rickey Tarfa and Company, thereby becoming its principal wall and head of practice.
Rickey Tarfa and co was established with the goal of ranking among the foremost law firms in Nigeria in terms of excellence in the provision of quality legal services to clients according to one National newspaper, last week. Rickey Tarfa who became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria at the age of 38, has indeed lived up to the expectations, he set for himself. Besides, the law firm which started with three lawyers 21 years ago can now boast of over 42 lawyers, over 30 paralegal and support staff as well as a retired Judge of the Lagos State High Court as consultant in chambers is still soaring high. The law firm’s legal services range from civil litigation to corporate law and practice, including commercial litigation, arbitration, aviation, Company Law and Practice, Maritime Law, Banking and Finance, Criminal Law and Practice, Debt Recovery, real Property Law and Consulting, Securities, and others. The firm now has offices in Lagos, Abuja and Yola and it has been listed in the KIMES International Directorate and in the Chambers Global Directory.
We are proud of Rickey Mustapha Tarfa because of his unique standing amongst lawyers, so says Engr. Uba Yaji Mshelia, a consultant Engineer in Abuja, who himself has made extra-ordinary landmarks in building multiple outstanding constructions.
To the firm’s principal, Ricky Tarfa and co maintains a firm balance between litigation and commercial practice with different cases boarding on different subject matters being hurdled by the office, spread across different courts of record in the country.
His law firm acts as external solicitors to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria Stock Exchange, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises among several others. The firm is also involved in recoveries and other matters on behalf of various financial institutions and banks.
As Mr. Tarfa clocks 47 on February 23 rd; his recent comment on the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2007 Presidential election, reminded watchers of his steadfastness and dedication to law profession. While writing a tribute on this man of the moment Idowu Sowunari reports, reacting to the verdict, Tarfa counsel to the Action Congress Presidential candidate and former Vice President said he disagree with the judgment but accepted it in good faith going by the base and thoroughness of the verdict.
Rickey Mustapha Tarfa, the dynamic Adamawa indigene is a member of Nigeria Bar Association and International Bar Association. He has visited more than (15) fifteen countries, worldwide and has been variably honoured. He was awarded Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (2007), Lawyer of the year (2001), City People Award for Excellence Rotary Excellence Award (2003), and life Patron of National Association of Judicial correspondents
Rickey Mustapha Tarfa attended North Garkida Primary School, Garkida from 1969 to 1975. He later went to Government Secondary School Hong between 1975 and 1980, where he got his Secondary School leaving Certificate (Division one) he then proceeded to the College of Preliminary Studies Yola, 1980 to 1981. Upon conclusion of his preliminary studies, he was admitted into the University of Maiduguri from 1981 to 1986, where he graduated with second class upper division in law and later went to the University of Lagos from 1990 to 1991 for his Masters programme in Law. Kudos to a star. Congratulations to a man of dignity, honour, integrity and credibility.
Emmanuel Y Kwache, A freelance Journalist and Commentator on National
issues, wrote this profile from No. 30 Gambia Crescent, Bekaji Estate,
Jimeta-Yola Adamawa State. 08034363618, 08055531975
E-mails: emmanuelyamekwache@yahoo.com
