Alleged N5m Bribe: Court Adjourns Ajumogobia, SAN’s Trial To March 17

Alleged N5m Bribe: Court Adjourns Ajumogobia, SAN’s Trial To March 17

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja yesterday adjourned further hearing in the case of suspended Federal High Court Judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Godwin Obla (SAN) to March 17.

The EFCC had arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla on a 30-count charge of conspiracy to pervert justice by allegedly giving and receiving a bribe of N5 million.

The EFCC had also alleged that about $793,800 passed through the Justice Ajumogobia’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015 and that she allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.

The two accounts, Access Bank (0002649223) and Diamond Bank (0032091183) have since been frozen by the EFCC.

Five of the charges are centered on an alleged N5m bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate while the remaining 26 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth.

The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, unlawful enrichment and other related offenses.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday a prosecution witness, Adewale Oshodi told the court of how he did not verify the huge amounts of money gave to him by the judge to pay into her dollar account domiciled in Diamond Bank.

Oshodi who is the branch Manager of one of the branches of the bank during cross examination further told the court that though he is expected to to ask for the source of funds from his customers, he decided to look the other way because Justice Ajumogobia was a high net-worth customer.

While being cross-examined by Ajumogobia’s counsel, Olawale Akoni, the witness further informed the court that the maximum amount expected to be paid into a dollar account per day was $10, 000, he paid $150, 000, $30, 000, $30, 000 and also $70, 000 between 2013 and 2015 when he was her account officer.

He also testified that he was not aware that Ajumogobia got the money from the proceeds of properties she sold, adding that she did not at any point tell him about the source of the funds.

The EFCC also called its second witness, Ogo Okafo, a relationship Officer with Acesss Bank Plc, who told the court that Ajumogobia maintained several accounts with the bank apart from her salary account, which is also domiciled in the bank.

Okafo informed the court that in 2012, Ajumogobia received the sum of N2.9 million from the Nigerian Customs Service as estacode.

He also claimed that the Judge further received a credit of N18 million from one Arkleen Oil and Gas. While also receiving an estacode of N2.1 million from the Federal High Court.

The witness maintained, “There was also an inflow of N20 million into the account in favour of Justice Ajumogobia.”

Okafo further said that she sometimes went to the Judge’s chambers at Kofo Abayomi Drive between September 2013 and December 2015 when she was the accounts officer of the defendant.

Justice Oshodi has adjourned the matter till March 17 for cross examination of the witness and continuation of trial.