Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), Principal Counsel and Head of Practice, Rickey Tarfa & Co., turns 63 years today.

A native of Garkida in Gombi local council of Adamawa State, Mr. Tarfa was the first lawyer from that state to take silk.

A Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Tarfa holds an upper Second Class honours degree in Law of the University of Maiduguri and a Master of Laws Degree (LL. M.) from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

He has attended several courses locally and overseas, including the 29th Maritime Short Course, Southampton, United Kingdom. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA).

Reputed as arguably Nigeria’s foremost litigation lawyer, Mr. Tarfa has been involved in many landmark cases, including the the presidential election petition as well as the successful defence of the mandate of Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, to name a few. He was also a member of the Panel of Inquiry appointed by the Federal Government to investigate the activities of then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

A well-traveled and happily married man, Mr. Tarfa has several awards to his name. These include the Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International, 2007), Lawyer of the Year 2001(City People Awards for Excellence), Rotary Excellence Award (2003), Men of Achievement Award (Corporate Press, 2007), Law Personality of the Year 2004 (Fame Achievers’ Award, 2004), and Life Patron, National Association of Judicial Correspondents (2003).

He heads the leading law firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co. which he founded in 1988 and has nurtured to maturity. The firm has grown from a one-office company of three staff to one of the largest law firms in Nigeria.

With an affiliate firm in the United States of America, Rickey Tarfa & Co. is listed in the KIMES International Directory and the Chambers Global Legal Directory. The firm has several local and foreign blue-chip companies and leading individuals among its clientele, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and several banks.

Meanwhile, according to posts on the alumni platform obtained by CITY LAWYER, encomiums have been pouring in for the senior lawyer especially from former staff of the leading law firm.

Below are a few of the birthday messages by grateful alumni members.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SIR,  Rickey Tarfa, Our own SAN. Glorious things are spoken of you Sir. Have a perfect and excellent celebration.

***

Happy birthday learned silk, sir! Thank you for nurturing talents and bearing fruits as a Senior lawyer. The Lord bless you and may His mercies and covenant kindness locate you in Jesus name. Amen

***

I remember many times, we would prepare late into the nights for cases scheduled to come for in courts, the following day. We would take bags filled with books.

On getting to courts, Rickey would change strategy and one would begin to wonder whether he was thinking through the cases overnight.

And the scores would be a WIN.

Without shouting, he scores.

Without fighting,  he wins.

For creating a platform where children of NOBODY could face giants in courts, for encouraging others to get the best that life offers, for consistently goading and teaching, God bless you sir.