The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Godwin Obla

  • SAN at large as EFCC re-arraigns dismissed judge Ajumogobia

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Godwin Obla on Thursday failed to turn up in court for his arraignment for alleged money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him along with dismissed Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    When the case was called for the defendants’ arraignment before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Obla was absent.

    Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo said efforts to reach him failed and that his phones were switched off.

    He said Obla’s lawyer could not also confirm his whereabouts.

    Oyedepo urged the court to allow Ofili-Ajumogobia take her plea alone pending when Obla is produced.

    The court granted the prayer.

    Ofili-Ajumogobia pleaded not guilty to an 18-count charge.

    Read Also: EFCC to re-arraign ex-judge Ajumogobia today

    Her re-arraignment followed her arrest after the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja struck out a previous charge against her on Tuesday for lack of jurisdiction.

    Obla, a former EFCC prosecutor, is the second defendant in the charge numbered FHC/139C/19.

    EFCC said they conspired on May 21, 2014, to indirectly conceal N5million in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd, which they “reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act to wit: unlawful enrichment”.

    The alleged offence is contrary sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15 (3).

    Ajumogobia was also accused of indirectly concealing N12million in the same account.

    EFCC, in another count, said she made a false statement to an officer that the money was payment for a property sale.

    Justice Aikawa is presently writing a ruling on the former judge’s bail application.

  • EFCC to re-arraign dismissed Ajumogobia Thursday

    She will be re-arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos, the Division she sat as a judge before she was sacked by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    The EFCC filed an 18-count charge against her.

    It follows her arrest after the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja struck out a previous charge against her on Tuesday for lack of jurisdiction.

    Ajumogobia will be brought to court from EFCC’s custody, it was learnt.

    A former EFCC prosecutor Mr Godwin Obla (SAN) is the second defendant in the charge numbered FHC/139C/19.

    READ ALSO: Breaking: EFCC lays siege in Court to arrest Ajumogobia

    EFCC said they conspired on May 21, 2014, to indirectly conceal N5million in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd which they “reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act to wit: unlawful enrichment”.

    The alleged offence is contrary sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 15 (3).

    Ajumogobia was also accused of indirectly concealing N12million in the same account.

    EFCC, in another count, said she made a false statement to an officer that the money was payment for a property sale.

  • Court grants Ajumogobia, Obla leave to travel abroad for medical treatment

    Court grants Ajumogobia, Obla leave to travel abroad for medical treatment

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted leave to a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Chief Godwin Obla travel abroad for medical treatment.
    Both Justice Ajumogobia and Chief Obla are  facing corruption charges of giving and receiving bribe brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.
    While Ajumogobia is travelling to New York, Obla is heading for  Houston, Texas.
    Ajumogobia had through her counsel, Olawale Akoni (SAN) sought the leave of the court to travel for urgent medical attention in Morris Height Center, Bronx New York.
    In a 17 paragraph affidavit in support of her request, Akoni said  Ajumogobia is  suffering from high blood pressure, palpitations, and stress related issues.
    However EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,  opposed the application.
    Oyedepo contended  that if Ajumogobia is granted leave to travel, she might jump bail and not come back to face her trial.
    He argued that Ajumogobia’s request to travel for thirty days was a ploy to stall the trial.
    Ruling on the application, Justice Oshodi said that the court has judicial discretion to rule on the application.
    “The prosecution failed to give evidence why the applicant cannot seek medical attention for her sickness outside Nigeria and how the prosecution came to decision that defendant would jump bail is best known to him.
    “I believe that the first defendant as a Federal High Court Judge has a lot to lose if she considers the idea of jumping bail”, he held.
    Justice Oshodi ordered the Chief Registrar  to release the international passport of  Ajumogobia to enable her travel abroad between June 7 and June 13, 2017.
    ” The defendant must return the passport to the Chief Registrar on or before July 1, 2017″, Justice Oshodi ruled.
    The judge also granted the second defendant, Godwin Obla (SAN) leave to also travel to Houston, Texas in the US for medical treatment.
    “The 2nd defendant is also granted leave to travel for medical treatment and must also return his passport to the Chief Registrar on July 4,” the Judge ruled.
    After the ruling, the EFCC called its tenth witness,a legal practitioner, Charles Musa who told the court Ajumogobia who was his classmate and friend, called him to help draw up a deed of agreement.
    “I sent her a mail about the terms of agreement and she did not get back to me again,” he said.
    Oyedepo however tendered deed of agreement between Ajumogobia’s company, Nigel and Colive and another company, County and City Bricks, purportedly drawn by the witness.
    Musa however denied signing or drafting the deed of agreement between the two companies.
    Justice Oshodi thereafter adjourned the matter till July 7 for continuation of trial.
    Ajumogobia who is standing trial along side senior lawyer Godwin Obla is accused by the EFCC of receiving a total of $793, 800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015.
    The judge was further accused of giving false information to EFCC operatives by claiming to be on admission in Lagos which was found out to be false, an offence contrary to section 39 (2)a of the EFCC Establishment Act.

  • Court dismisses SAN’s fundamental rights suit

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday dismissed a suit filed by Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN) seeking the enforcement of his rights against alleged unlawful detention.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred a 30-count charge against Obla and a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    The charges border on conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice.

    The commission had detained the duo in its custody, pending the conclusion of its investigations.

    Obla had through his counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), brought an application, urging the court to declare as unlawful his continued detention and seizure of his mobile phones.

    Adedipe had argued that the action of the anti-graft agency constituted an infringement on his client’s rights to personal liberty and ownership of property.

    He therefore urged the court to issue an order declaring Obla’s continued detention in custody as unlawful and a gross infringement on his rights.

    In addition, Obla claimed the sum of N1 billion against the EFCC, as damages for the alleged infringement.

    Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Mohammed Idris held that fundamental rights cannot in any way be construed as meaning absolute rights, since they can be curtailed.

    “I cannot find my way clear in holding that the detention of the applicant is not in conformity with the provisions of the law.

    “It is not in dispute that the mobile phones of the applicant were listed as one of the exhibits which the respondent intends to tender in court,” the judge ruled.

  • EFCC slams corruption charges on Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla

    EFCC slams corruption charges on Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has preferred a 30-count charge against a Federal High Court Judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, and Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    In the charge listed as number LD/367/C/16, Ofili-Ajumogobia was listed as the first defendant, while Obla was named as second defendant.

    The defendants were said to have committed the offence on May 21, 2015, by conspiring to pervert the course of justice with five million Naira.

    The money was alleged to have been transferred to one Nigel & Colive Ltd. in relation to a charge number FHC/L/C/482/10.

    Ajumogobia is said to be a sole signatory to Nigel & Colive Ltd.

    Both defendants were said to have conspired to pervert the course of justice in contravention of the provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    In counts one to four, Obla was said to have offered gratification by transferring the money from his company’s account, Obla & Co., domiciled with the United Bank for Africa, to Nigel & Colive.

    The transfer was alleged to have been made in order to restrain a public officer from acting in the exercise of her official duties.

    In counts five, Ajumogobia was said to have unlawfully enriched herself by receiving a transfer of N18 million from one Arkleem Oil and Gas Ltd. in her Diamond Bank account.

    In counts six to 20, the judge was alleged to have also received a transfer of monies from various outlets to her Diamond Bank account to the tune of over 788,000 dollars.

    In count 29, the judge was alleged to have forged a deed of assignment between a company, County-City Bricks Dev. Co. Ltd and Nigel & Colive Ltd.

    In counts 30, the judge was further alleged to have made a false statement to the EFCC that she was on admission at Gold Cross Hospital at Bourdillion, Ikoyi, which statement was found to be false.

    All the offences are said to be contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011 as well as the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

    No date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused.

  • Halliburton scandal: EFCC grills another SAN

    Halliburton scandal: EFCC grills another SAN

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled a senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla, on his role and that of four others in negotiating plea bargain for companies indicted in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

    The other affected lawyers are – a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), J. B. Daudu (SAN);  Damian D. Dodo(SAN); E.C. Ukala(SAN); and Roland Ewubare.

    The anti- graft agency had been tracing the whereabouts of the $200million (N66billion) penalty fines paid by five companies involved in the scandal.

    The breakdown of the remittances by the five companies was as follows – Julius Berger ($35m); Siemens (Euros 30m); Snamprogetti($30m); Halliburton Energy Services($32,500,000); and Japan Gasoline Corporation($26, 500,000).

    Also, the anti-graft agency may ask the lawyers who handled the settlement agreement to account for about $12million (N3.960billion) collected as “legal fees.”

    Investigation revealed that Obla was invited for allegedly coordinating settlement terms and agreement with Siemens.

     

  • Court adjourns Ikuforiji’s case till Jan 7

    Court adjourns Ikuforiji’s case till Jan 7

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned till January 7 next year for continuation of hearing in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the state’s House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

    The Speaker and his Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi were charged before Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    Their lawyer, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), prayed the court to order the prosecution to identify the documents it intends to tender during the trial so as to save time.

    The judge directed the prosecution lawyer to sort out vital documents which he considers useful for the trial.

    EFCC accused Ikuforiji and his assistant of accepting cash payments meant for the Assemble without going through a financial institution.

    During the hearing yesterday, EFCC’s witness Adebayo Adedeji, led in evidence by Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), told the court that Atoyebi’s job schedule included running errands for the Speaker and collecting cash from the accounts department for the Assembly’s use.

    The witness added that on each occasion Atoyebi collected money, he acknowledged it by appending his signature.

    “On August 2, 2011, the second accused signed and collected about N4 million on behalf of the first accused, with the heading: ‘National Council for State Legislators Conference, United States.’

    “In the cash register, it was also discovered that on August 3, 2011, the second accused collected the sum of N10 million on behalf of the Speaker, and the payment was tagged: ‘Ramadan’. It was signed and dated August 4, 2011.

    “On August 23, 2011, the sum of N1.2 million was also collected by the second accused, on behalf of the Speaker, and the transaction was tagged: ‘Money for Orderly to the Wife of Speaker’. This transaction was signed and dated Aug. 29, 2011,” he said.

     

    At this stage, the court and lawyers agreed that Obla should isolate the transactions he intends to highlight from the voluminous cash book to save time.

    Oyetibo told reporters that the prosecution had not tendered anything incriminating against the Speaker.

    The number of witnesses to be called by the defence would depend on the “strength and character” of the testimonies of the prosecution’s witnesses, he said.