Why EFCC Re-Arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, Obla

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a serving judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Godwin Obla, for allegedly involving themselves in unlawful enrichment and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They were re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja after the EFCC amended the charges against them.

The duo was first arraigned in November 2016 on 30-counts but the new charge has 31 counts.

In the fresh charges, 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.”

On Obla’s part, he was accused of offering N5m as gratification to the judge so as to allegedly pervert the course of justice.

The offences are said to be contrary to certain sections of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State No. 11, 2011.

The defendants again pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges.

The EFCC Immediately called its 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Lawal, an investigator, who continued his testimony before the court.

Lawal, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, pointed out three deposits – N4m, N3m and 5m – made into the account of Nigel and Colive Nigeria Limited, a company allegedly belonging to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.