EFCC Re-arraigns Justice Ajumogobia without Obla

Ololade Adeyanju/

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today for alleged money laundering.

She appeared before Justice Mohammed Liman without a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, who had earlier been charged with her.

The Counsel for the EFCC, Suleiman Suleiman had earlier applied to the Court to withdraw Obla’s name.

The Court granted the request and Obla’s name was accordingly withdrawn.

Justice Ajumogobia consequently, becomes the sole defendant in the amended charge.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to all counts brought by the anti-graft agency.

But defence counsel, Mobolaji Kuti, urged the court to allow the defendant continue on the terms and conditions of bail earlier given by a brother judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa before whom the defendant had earlier been arraigned.

In a short ruling, Justice Liman ordered that the defendant continues on the bail earlier granted.

The judge thereafter, adjourned the case until April 21 and April 28 for trial.

The anti-graft agency had on April 18, 2019, arraigned Ajumogobia before Justice Aikawa on 18 counts, bordering on breach of trust, false statement and unlawful enrichment.

According to the amended charge, the defendant allegedly committed the offence on or about July 11, 2014, in Lagos.

The prosecution accuses the defendant of indirectly concealing the total sum of N12 million in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd opened and operated by her.

According to the commission, the defendant ought to have known that the money forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act of criminal breach of trust.

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