Emmanuel Thomas l November 28, 2016
LAGOS – Investigation has revealed that Godwin Obla, SAN is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for bribing Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili Ajumogobia who presided over the case between the Federal Government and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Mr. Raymond Temisan Omatseye.
Omatseye was arraigned on 27 court charge, bothering on alleged contract variation, bid rigging and awarding contract beyond his approval limit.
Godwin Obla, SAN was prosecutor for the EFCC during the hearing. According to EFCC sources, Obla allegedly offered the money to Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia to secure conviction for the EFCC.
But EFCC, we gathered, was against favourable judgment at all cost in its pursuit of the anti-corruption mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari hence the need to prosecute Obla to serve as a deterrent to others.
Among the charges are that Godwin Obla, SAN, on or about the 21st day of May, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired with one another to pervert the course of justice in charge No. FHC/L/C/ 482C/10 with the sum of N5,000,000.00 and that he intentionally gave the said sum directly from Obla and Company account no. 1015319084 domiciled at United Bank for Africa Plc in order that the applicant as a judge acts in the exercise of her official duties.
We uncovered that the case sighted, FHC?482C/10 was the citation for the came involving the ex-NIMASA Boss, Temisan Omatseye Vs Federal Republic of Nigeria.
