Shouts save me my lord, as EFCC closes in on her
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Tuesday, April 16, 2019
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – There was a mild drama in the premises of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja today immediately Justice Hakeem Oshodi struck out a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) against former judge of the Federal High Court (Ilorin), Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogbia for lack of jurisdiction.
Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia is being tried by EFCC for unlawful enrichment and breach of code of practice. About $667,000 USD and N54 million were alleged by the EFCC to have been deposited into her personal and company accounts by clients and associates. She was charged with Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
At the last sitting, Chief Robert Clark, SAN counsel to Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia had urged the court to either strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction or split charges between the first defendant, Rita Ofili Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla, SAN.
He alluded to the Appeal Court judgment of Justice Obaseki Adejumo in Ajiya Nganjuwa Vs FRN. In the judgment with the Appeal No: CA/L/969C/17 . Hon Justice Obaseki Adejumo said that EFCC does not have power to investigate and prosecute serving judicial officers and that NJC must first strip the Appellant (Hon. Justice Nganjuwa) of his judicial standing before he could be charge.
“His Lordship further stated that serving judicial officers can only be prosecuted for offences like murder, stealing etc done outside the discharge of their duties. That once the offence was committed in the discharge of their duties, they must be tried by NJC first.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Hakeem Oshodi argued that to sever charges between the first and the second defendant would amount to amended charges since the court has no jurisdiction and that an order to discharge the first defendant cannot hold, because such order will be a worthless order. He also described the amended charge during the case as incompetence and rendered all actions taken as worthless.
He was also not happy that the prosecution went on with the case and called 14 witnesses even when it is in the know of the judgement of Justice Obasaki Adejumo in Ajiya Nganjuwa Vs FRN. He averred that 12 witnesses of the prosecution were still giving evidence even after the judgment.
“One would have thought that the prosecution would have urged the court to strike out the suit but the prosecution continued like a bull running amok”, stressing that what has happened amounts to waste of time and rendered all the work done during the proceeding a nullity.
He was particular pained that the judiciary had no provision that would allow for prosecution to pay cost for wasting the precious time of the court. “It is unfortunate that the judiciary has not been able to make law to make prosecution to pay cost having wasted the precious time of the court. Counsel should be master of the case and not dictated to by the client”, he averred.
Shortly after striking out the suit, Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia, who was wearing plastic pop on her right leg exited the the court with her husband and descended the stairs but on the way she realised that officials of the EFCC were everywhere waiting to arrest her.
She fled to the court while Justice Hakeem Oshodi was presiding over other matters. Her husband who was waiting downstairs later joined her even as officials of the agency continued to trail her in the court watching her closely. She could not bear the pressure and has to call out to the judge, “My Lord save me”, but the reply of the judge is “There is nothing I can do, you file has been closed”, he told her.
But Justice Ajumogobia became restless, pacing to and fro the court and the balcony, making frantic calls but it was to no avail. Eventually when it dawned on her that help was not coming, compounded with the decision of the judge to rise for the day, she submitted to the EFCC. Watch the video here
She was led down into the waiting white truck with registration number Abuja BWA 63780.
She boarded the vehicle but a mild drama ensued when officials of the agency attempted to push her into the middle between two men which she resisted. Her husband was not allowed into the same vehicle.
Among the charges filed in the case 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.
“That the you on or about the 5th of June 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched herself with the sum of N18 million from Arkleen Oil and Gas Ltd., through your account no. 0002112967 domiciled in the Access Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you between the 10th and 30th day of May, 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court enriched yourself with the total sum of $130,000,00 through account No. 0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets which you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 11th June, 2013 in Lagos within jurisdiction of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $20,000 through your account no. 00032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 11th of February, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $30,000 through account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 27th March, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with a total sum of $50,000 through her account No.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Account Plc so as to have a significant increase in your asset that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 29th of March, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with a total sum of $150,000 through your account no. 0033091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 2nd June , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $70,000 through your account no. 0032091183 domiciled in Diamond bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your asset in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 19th June , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $20,000 through your account no. 0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your asset that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 13th October , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $20,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 14th October , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $55,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 21st November , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $50,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 20th December , 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $50,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you between 17th and 19th day of June 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $30,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 6th day of July, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $10,000 through your account no.0032091183 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you between 11th day of August, 2011 and March 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $68,000 through your account no.0002649223 domiciled in Access Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you between 30th day of April and 3rd day of September, 2012 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of $35,000 through your account no. 0002649223 domiciled in Access Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about the 21st day of May, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with a total sum of N5,000,000.00 from Obla and Company which sum you received through Nigel $ Colive Ltd’s account No. 0036103635 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about 20th day of June, 2014 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of N7,500,000 from Paul Iloba Obanua which sum you received through Nigel and Colive Ltd’s account no. 0036103635 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about 4th day of February , 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of N8,000,000 from Grand Bee Ltd., which sum you received through Nigel and Colive Ltd’s account no. 0036103635 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you on or about 14th day of September, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of N5,460,000 from through Nigel and Colive Ltd’s account no. 0036103635 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That younon or about 29th day of January, 2016 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with the sum of N18,000,000 which sum you received from one Said Danlami Abba through Nigel and Colive Ltd’s account no. 0036103635 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That younbetween 7th day of January and 30th day of December, 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court enriched yourself with aggregate sum of N12,270, 000,00 through her account no. 0029928474 domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc so as to have a significant increase in your assets that she cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.
“That you between the 5th day of July and 30th day of December 2010 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly forged a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Co Ltd and Nigel & Colive ltd dated the 5th day of July , 2010 which you purported to have prepared and signed by one Charlse Musa Esq of Charles Musa & Co attached and marked exhibit EFCC01 is copy of the said agreement.
