Alleged Bribery: EFCC Arraigns Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia [/caption]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Godwin Obla for alleged bribery.
The duo were arraigned on a 30-count charge before Justice Akeem Oshodi, at a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, for allegedly giving and receiving a bribe of N5 million.
Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo is the prosecuting EFCC counsel while Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is being represented by Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN). Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) is representing Obla, who is a former prosecutor of the anti-graft agency.
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Five of the charges are centred on an alleged N5 million bribe given to the judge by Obla while the remaining 25 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth, which exceeds her lawful income as a public official.
The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, and other related offences.
Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla have been in the custody of the EFCC for about 17 days, following revelations that the senior advocate paid N5 million into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account in 2015 at a time she was presiding over one of his cases.
In the charge, with number LD/367/C/16, the anti-graft agency said that both defendants committed offences in contravention of the provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. Their accounts have since been frozen by the EFCC.
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The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the defence team applied for their bail on self-recognition or on liberal terms.
The EFCC has, however, contended that the defendants had tried to interfere with investigation and witnesses, urging the court to consider that in exercising its discretion on whether or not to grant bail
