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Tag: Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia

  • 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.

  • Drama in court as EFCC re-arrests Ofili-Ajumogobia

    There was a mild drama at an Ikeja High Court as officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended a former judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    The incident happened after Justice Hakeem Oshodi struck out a 31-count charge filed against the embattled judge.

    As she was leaving the courtroom at 10.30 a.m, after the ruling, she saw some EFCC operatives waiting to re-arrest her.

    On she sighted them, the judge hastily went back into Justice Oshodi’s courtroom, apparently for protection.

    When Justice Oshodi was informed about the development, the trial judge said the matter was beyond him and that there was nothing he could do as “the file has been closed”.

    The embattled judge and her husband, who accompanied her, were later seen making calls, apparently to avert her arrest.

    But when Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s co-defendant, was set to leave the court, none of the EFCC operative stopped him.

    Read also: Suspects held, cash seized during polls, says EFCC

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was re-arrested after Justice Oshodi rose at noon and was driven away in a white Hilux van with registration number (Abuja) BWR637AT.

    Justice Oshodi had struck out a 31-count charge filed by the EFCC against Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    The judge was charged with alleged perversion of justice, unlawful enrichment and forgery; Obla was alleged to have offered N5 million gratification to the judge.

    The judge held that based on the judicial precedent set in the case of Justice Nganjuwa V FRN, the EFCC had “jumped the gun” in filing the first amended charge.

    According to Justice Oshodi, the EFCC failed to follow the procedures set by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in disciplining erring judicial officers.

    In an application, dated November 27, last year, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s counsel, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), prayed the court to discharge and acquit his client based on Appeal Court ruling on Nganjuwa vs FRN.

    Justice Oshodi held that the prosecutor wasted the time of the court, knowing that the court lacked jurisdiction, yet amended the charge to call 12 witnesses.

    The judge expressed displeasure that the judicial system made no provision to fine the prosecutor for wasting the judicious time of the court.

    He said: “As at Monday, December 11, 2017, the EFCC was aware of the decision reached by the Court of Appeal in Nganjuwa vs FRN. As at that date, the amended information was yet to be filed and the 12th prosecution witness was still giving evidence.

    “The prosecution persisted like a bull running amok and still called two more witnesses and precious judicial time was wasted. We have not found a way in the judicial atmosphere to discipline or penalise an agency of government through fines or costs.

    “In conclusion, the court has no jurisdiction to hear the first amended charge of February 21, 2018, of 31-counts. This suit is hereby struck out.”

  • EFCC re-arraigns Ajumogobia, Obla for alleged unlawful enrichment

    EFCC re-arraigns Ajumogobia, Obla for alleged unlawful enrichment

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), for alleged unlawful enrichment and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

    The re-arraignment before an Ikeja high court was sequel to amendment to charges preferred against them before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    The new charge sheet against the defendants contained 31 counts as against the former charge of 30 counts when they were first arraigned in November 2016.

    In the new charge, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia was, among other things, accused of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

    Obla, on his part, was accused of offering N5m as gratification to the judge so as to allegedly pervert the course of justice.

    The offences were said to be contrary to sections 64(1), 82(a) and 69(1) (a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

    But the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges as they did earlier.

    Meanwhile, the 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Lawal, an investigator, continued his testimony before the court on Friday.

    Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Lawal pointed out three deposits of N4million, N3million and N5million, made into the account of Nigel and Colive Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly belonging to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    The deposits, he said, were made on July 11, 2014, by a Customs officer, Omali Musa.

    According to him, when Musa was confronted, he told the anti-graft agency that he carried out the instruction of his superior, Musa Tahir, who, in turn, said the instruction to pay the money was from the former Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko.

    Lawal said the finding was contrary to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s claim that the N12million was proceeds of landed property bequeathed to her by her late mother.

    He said, “The sum of N12million was not part of the lawful income of the first defendant.

    “They were payments made by Omali Musa, a Customs officer. They were sums being paid by Customs officers into Musa’s account, which he later transferred into the account of the first defendant.”

    Under cross-examination by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), Lawal said he did not interview Dikko to find out the reason for the payment.

    He, however, said, “Even though I did not see Mr. Dikko, I saw a written note given to Mr. Tahir by Mr. Dikko, containing the account number of Nigel and Colive, and says effect the payment.”

    Lawal said he did not caution the judge when asked by the defence counsel if he cautioned the judge during the telephone conversation that whatever she has said would be used against her in court.

    The witness said that no forensic expert was called to analyze the signature of one Charles Musa on a document alleged to have been forged by Ajumogobia.

    Justice Oshodi has adjourned further proceedings in the matter till March 23, 2013.

    Read Also: Ajumogobia, Obla can travel abroad for medical treatment, says court

  • I don’t know why customs paid Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia N12m – Witness

    I don’t know why customs paid Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia N12m – Witness

    An officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Musa Tahir, told the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Thursday that he did not know why N12 million was paid into the account of embattled judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    Tahir stated this during cross-examination by Ofili-Ajumohobia’s counsel, Mr. Olawale Akoni (SAN), during the ongoing trial of the judge.

    The witness also said he did not know the source of the money, adding that he only carried out the order of Comptroller General of Customs.

    He said: “I have seen Hon. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia but I have never met her one -on- one.  I don’t know why the Comptroller General of Customs said the money should be paid into my colleague Musa Omale’s account to be forwarded into the judge company’s account.

    “I don’t have the paper in which the Comptroller General of Customs wrote the directive. The paper was handed over to Omale who worked in my office.

    “I did not know the source of the money. The CGC who gave the directive is still alive.”

     

  • Customs paid N12m into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account – witness

    Customs paid N12m into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account – witness

    Mr Musa Omale, a witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) paid N12 million into a bank account owned by the judge.

    Omale, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, made the assertion while giving testimony in the ongoing trial of the judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before an Ikeja High Court.

    Led in evidence by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    Omale, who is the fifth witness for the anti-graft agency, said that the account was run by the judge.

    He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.

    “In the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko.

    “He gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1million each into my bank account.

    “Tahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive.

    “The instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    “No services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account,” Musa said.

    The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency.

    “I was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements.

    “I was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me ‘when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing?

    “At that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction,” Musa said.

    However, while being cross – examined by the lead defence counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred.

    Clarke said, “In the face of the statement of account that you’re holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money?

    “You work with the NCS which is a para – military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions.

    “The spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything?’’

    Responding to Clarke’s questions, Musa said “The statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction.

    “I was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and I’m not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth.

    “I was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements.”

    NAN reports that on March 17, a fourth prosecution witness, Mr Uchenna Okaranwolu, a former banker, had revealed to the court that the Delta State Government had paid N15 million into the judge’s Access bank account.

    Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Mr Godwin Obla, SAN, a former prosecutor of the EFCC.

    The duo is jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.

    Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

    Both denied all the charges.

    Another prosecution witness, Mr Robertson Emafidon, revealed during proceedings details of the N5 million which was transferred from Obla’s United Bank of Africa (UBA) bank into the judge’s account.

    Emafidon, the Head of Regulatory Liason at the Head Office of the UBA, said “Sometime in November 2016, we received a letter from the EFCC asking us to avail them of the account opening documents and statement of account regarding the subject customer.

    “I made copies of the documents, certified them as true copied, signed and forwarded them as a letter back to the EFCC.

    “There was a debit of N5million on May 21, 2015 from the account of Obla and Co into the bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.

    “On May 18, 2015 there was a credit of N16.5million from the account of D.S.J Integrated Services into the bank account of Obla and Co.”

    However, while being cross – examined by Clarke and Chief Ferdinard Orbih (SAN), defence counsel to Obla, Emafidon denied any knowledge of the purpose of the bank transfers.

    “I don’t know the purpose of the transfers, I was not personally involved in any of these transactions and I was not in any of the branches where the transactions occurred,” Emafidon said.

    After the witnesses had given their evidence, Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, made an oral application to the court seeking for some witness summons to compel additional witnesses to testify for the EFCC in the trial.

    “My Lord, I want to apply for a witness summons to be issued on Mr Charles Musa, a proposed eleventh witness on the proof of evidence, Mr Frank Ezenwe and Mr Danladi Haliyu the fifth and sixth witnesses in the additional list of witnesses.

    “We will also request for a subpoena to the Registrar of Titles of the Bureau of Lands, Lagos, to produce a deed of assignment,” Oyedepo said.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for the continuation of trial.

  • EFCC prosecutor’s absence stalls Justice Ajumogobia’s trial

    EFCC prosecutor’s absence stalls Justice Ajumogobia’s trial

    The absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, on Thursday stalled the ongoing trial of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili -Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

    Oyedepo was said to be handling another case at the Court of Appeal, Lagos division.

    Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, adjourned the matter till April 10 at the instance of the defense counsels.

    Counsel to Obla, Ifedayo Adedipe( SAN),  expressed disappointment  at the absence of the EFCC prosecutor.

    He noted that Oyedepo failed to serve the defence with any letter explaining his absence.

    “My Lord, we came here this morning to be confronted with a letter from the prosecution, stating that he could not be present in court because he is presently handling a case at the Court of Appeal. I am surprised that the prosecution did not deem it fit to serve the defense with a copy of the letter.

    “There are things I would like to say, but I would reserve my comments until the prosecution is present in court at the next adjourned date,”Adedipe said.

    He, however, informed the court that they have two urgent and pending applications that are ripe for hearing.

    Ajumogobia’s Counsel, Olawale Akoni, also aligned himself with the 2nd defendant’s counsel and asked for a short adjournment.

     

     

  • Delta govt paid N24million into Justice Ajumogobia in 2011 – Witness

    Delta govt paid N24million into Justice Ajumogobia in 2011 – Witness

    An Ikeja high court heard Friday that the Delta State Government credited the current bank account of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia twice in August 2011 to the tune of N24 miilion.

    A former customer relations officer with Access Bank Plc, Clement Okaranwolu who disclosed this at resumed proceedings before Justice Hakeem Oshodi said on Friday that the state credited the judge’s account with N15million on August 5, 2011and with N9million on August 29, 2011.

    Okaranwolu, who said he was the account officer to the judge, further stated that N15million was paid into the account with an Oceanic Bank cheque while the N9million was lodged in with a Zenith Bank cheque.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, a serving judge of the Federal High Court, is facing a 30 count charge offence before the court for alleged bribery and unlawful enrichment alongside a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Godwin Obla.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused the judge of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

    Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo Okaranwolu is the fourth prosecution witness told the court that apart from the naira account, the judge also owned two dollars accounts into which lodgments were constantly made by herself and other individuals.

    The witness said one Ken Mozia paid in $20,000 on May 7, 2008 into the judge’s domiciliary account, numbered 0002130929; Tony Iwobi, who paid $10,000 into the account on April 16, 2008; Ali D, who paid in $10,000 on June 16, 2007;  Subedetu, who paid in $3,000 on April 12, 2011; and AB/GT which paid in $9,900 on April 30, 2013.

    The witness, who was presented with the judge’s statements of accounts, also pointed out to the court several $10,000 lodgments which Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia made by herself and by sending others, including the witness himself and one Donald Ofili adding that $10,000 was the maximum daily deposit allowed.

    He said that the two dollar accounts received a total credit of $693,000 deposited by the judge and other individuals between 2007 and 2011.

    The witness also pointed out names of individuals who credited the judge’s account to include one Ayegba Abdullahi who credited the account with N1million on August 17, 2011; Mrs. Bola Latinwo who paid N700,000 and N500,000 into the account on October 5 and November 20, 2011 respectively.

    Justice Oshodi has adjourned further proceedings in the matter till April 28, 2017.

     

  • How bank gave Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia waivers on account opening

    How bank gave Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia waivers on account opening

    An Ikeja high court heard yesterday that none of the persons listed as directors in the corporate account opened by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia at Diamond Bank visited the bank as at when the account was opened.Adebisi Onanuga

    A staff of the bank, Ademola Oshodi disclosed this yesterday to the court at the resumed trial of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Chief Godwin Obla before the court presided by Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

    Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to Economic and Financial Service Commission (EFCC), Adebayo, who was giving evidence on waivers given to the judge by the bank, said he did not meet any of the directors of the company as at the time he was opening the account contrary to usual practice.

    He told the court that the company, Nigel and Colive, is into general business and is located at No. 18, Lai Ajayi Bembe Road, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He reiterated that when officials from the bank inspected the business premises it was still under construction.

    He said contrary to stipulated requirements, the fact that the business premises given by the judge was uncompleted was overlooked by the bank officials because the judge was considered a good customer.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Chief Obla are jointly being charged by the EFCC for allegedly perverting the course of justice.

    Mrs Ofili-Ajumogobia is facing a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

    Mr Obla, on the other hand, is facing a two-count charge bordering on offering gratification of N5 million to Mrs.

    The anti-graft agency alleges that Mrs Ofili-Ajumogobia, while serving as a justice of the Federal High Court, Lagos, unjustly enriched herself by illegally receiving $793,800 from various sources between 2012 and 2015 in three Diamond Bank accounts.

    The witness told the court that he filled the account opening forms himself but that they were executed and signed by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

    He also said that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is the signatory to the account Nigel and Colive which is a corporate account.

    The witness also told the court how cash deposits ranging from N900,000 to N8.8 million were made by him on behalf of the judge into her corporate account with the bank.

    He said the money were either picked up from either her office, her home or from her Bureau De Change operative and that he made all the deposits himself on her behalf.

    Counsel to Mrs Ofili-Ajumogobia, Omotola Akonni (SAN), however, requested for permission to cross-examine Mr Oshodi at the next date of adjournment.

    “I hereby request for time to cross-examine the witness at the next adjourned date, I just came in from a proceeding at the Federal High Court and I need time to settle and prepare adequately,” he said.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi granted the request of the senior lawyer and adjourned to March 10 for cross-examination of the prosecution witness and March 17 for a continuation of trial.”

    Counsel to Obla, Mr, I.A Adedipe, in his submission, also requested that the international passport of his client earlier handed over to the court as part of his bail conditions should be released to enable him travel abroad.

    In his ruling, Justice Oshodi granted Adedipe’s request for the release of his passport.

    “The Chief Registrar shall release the passport of the second defendant to travel overseas from February 5 to March 5 and return his passport to the Chief Registrar on or before March. 6″, he ordered.

  • EFCC files 30 count charge against Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla

    EFCC files 30 count charge against Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Monday  arraigned a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a senior lawyer, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) for alleged bribery and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

    The judge and the senior lawyer were arraigned on a 30 count charge offence  before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

    The charges were read to them after Justice Oshodi ordered them to move from the court gallery into the dock.

    “Unfortunately, you have to be in the dock,” Justice Oshodi told them.

    When their trial commenced, the defendants were asked by the court’s registrar if they understood English language, to which they answered in the affirmative.

    Thereafter, each of the 30 count charge preferred against them by the commission was read to them.

    The EFCC, alleged that Obla, while appearing in a suit numbered FHC/L/C/482c/2010 before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, offered a gratification of N5million to the judge to allegedly induce the judge to refrain from acting in the exercise of her official duties as a public officer.

    Obla, the EFCC claimed, paid the money from the account of his company, Obla & Company Limited, with United Bank for Africa, to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia through the bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd in Diamond Bank Plc.

    Furthermore, the EFCC claimed that the judge and the senior lawyer acted contrary to sections  64 (1) and 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

    They both pleaded not guilty to the offence.
    At the sitting of the court, Obla was dressed in a blue suit sitting on a white shirt and a blue tie to match while co-defendant, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia  wore a black suit and skirt.
    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia who had 24 out of the 30 count charge offence preferred against her was accused of unlawfully enriching herself as a public officer contrary to the provision of Section 82(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

    The judge was alleged to have received a total of $793,800 in several transactions from different sources between 2012 and 2015 “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

    According to the EFCC, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia by her actions, violated Section 82(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

    The judge was further alleged to have forged a deed of assignment of County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Nigel & Colive Limited dated July 5, 2010, which the EFCC claimed was purportedly prepared and signed by Charles Musa & Co.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

    In count 30, the EFCC accused Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of giving false information to one of its operatives, Lawal Abdullahi, on October 19, 2016 by allegedly claiming on the telephone to be on admission at Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, while she was not there.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Consequently, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court for a trial date and for an order remanding the defendants in prison custody pending commement of their trial.

    But Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), and that of chief Obla, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said while they had no objection to the prayer for a trial date, they were opposed to the application to remand their clients in prisons.

    Both of them told  the court that they had filed bail applications for their clients.

    Akoni urged Justice Oshodi to grant Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia bail on self recognition as a judge of the Federal High Court or to grant her bail on liberal terms, with a condition that the EFCC should not be the one to verify the bail conditions.

    Adedipe also prayed Justice Oshodi to grant Obla bail on liberal terms, assuring that he would make himself available for trial.

    “When he was allowed to travel to the US, he did so and returned and submitted his passport to the EFCC,

    “He is one of them in EFCC. He prosecutes cases for them, rather than pay him, they dragged him to court. He is a respected member of the Bar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” Adedipe said.

    But the EFCC prosecutor opposed their requests and urged Justice Oshodi not to grant the defendants bail but to order an accelerated hearing of the case.

    Oyedepo said if released on bail Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia would interfere with investigation and the prosecution witnesses.
    He recalled that it was on that basis that the EFCC revoked the administrative bail earlier granted the judge.

    But after standing the case down for about two hours, Justice Oshodi, in a ruling, admitted both defendants to bail on self recognition.

    He ordered them to deposit N20m each and their passport to the chief registrar of the court pending conclusion of trial.

    Justice Oshodi warned that the bail would be revoked if the defendants failed to meet the conditions within seven days.

    The trial commenced immediately thereafter with the EFCC calling its first witness, one Mr. Adedamola Oshodi, a banker with Diamond Bank Plc.

    The case was, however, adjourned till January 9, 2017 for continuation of trial, following the submission of the defence counsels who said they were not prepared for trial.

  • Alleged N5m bribe: SAN, female judge contradict each other before EFCC

    Alleged N5m bribe: SAN, female judge contradict each other before EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) on Tuesday grilled another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla over payment of a N5million bribe  into the account of a female judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
    But Obla and the judge contradicted themselves before the EFCC team of interrogators.
    The SAN, who was still undergoing interrogation last night, might be detained by EFCC.
    According to findings, the judge had told the EFCC that the N5million was a part payment for a N40million property she sold to Obla in 2015.
    Obla however said the cash was meant for buying of building materials (iron rods) for a building he was putting up in Abuja and not for buying of any property.
    He said the judge, who was a colleague in the university, only assisted in buying the said building materials.
    He said he came across the judge during a trip to Lagos and sought for her assistance to buy the building materials.
    A source said: “Obla said the judge gave him the name of someone who plies the trade. She provided the company’s name and the account number for the transaction. Obla said he paid the money and goods were supplied.
    “When asked the name of the trader, receipt of transaction and delivery evidence of the goods, the learned silk said he could not remember the name of the trader or his location, neither was there any receipt or delivery note for the transaction.
    Investigation by EFCC detectives confirmed that the N5million was paid into the account of a company in which the judge and her children have interest.
    The source added: “The registered company, not known to be engaged in building materials or any viable business is suspected to be surreptititously set up for the purpose of warehousing proceeds of gratification.
    “The same company has been fingered in other illegal transactions including suspicious payments of sorts by some other persons.”
    Responding to a question, the source said: “I think we might detain the Senior Advocate of Nigeria( SAN), who was a former prosecutor for EFCC.”