By Matthew Don
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was on Thursday rearraigned before Justice Mohammed Rilwan Aikawa of a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N224m fraud.
She was docked on a fresh 18 charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, money laundering and false statement and criminal breach of trust.
She was to be rearraigned with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla but the latter was conspicuously absent in court.
Rotimi Oyedepo, EFCC lawyer while referring to the absence of Obla as the second defendant in the charge, said: “My lord as it is now, I can say that the 2nd defendant (Godwin Obla) is at large.
“My lord upon the filing of this charge, I personally called the counsel representing the 2nd defendant, Chief I.A. Adedipe (SAN), he told me that he could not reach him.
“The Commission also took steps to contact him and we discovered that he switched off his handset. I urge your lordship to make an order to issue a summon to him to appear before the court on next adjourned date.
“On Justice Ajumogobia (1st defendant), Oyedepo said the Commission has been able to produce her in court, adding that subject to the court’s discretion, the charge can be read for her to take a plea.
“Since trial is not commencing today, we shall make effort to produce the 2nd defendant before trial commences.”
But O. Akon, SAN, leading the team of defence for 1st defendant said that subject court’s discretion, his client was ready to take her plea, a situation the EFCC prosecutor moved the court for the 1st defendant to take her plea.
The charge was read to her and she pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Oyedepo: “My lord, in view of the plea of the defendant,we urge your lordship to give us a trail date and also asking that the 1st defendant be remanded in prison custody.
“For the 2nd defendant, we are yet to get him. May I ask your lordship for an order directing him to appear before the court to take his plea.The defence counsel, Mr Akon in his submission, made an oral application urging the court to grant bail to the 1st defendant. The oral application was made in view of the special circumstances surrounding the case, adding that the court should take judicial notice that 1st defendant is a judicial officer.
Akoni: “I want your lordship to take a judicial notice that the 1st defendant is a judicial officer.
“Even the information in the charge testify to the fact that the 1st defendant is a judicial officer.
“The 1st defendant remains a judicial officer until the President approves the recommendation of NJC.”
Justice Aikawa in his ruling admitted Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
The court ruled that the surety should be a civil servant not below Grade Level 16 from either Federal or State civil service or in the alternative, the surety should be a person with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Ofili-Ajumogobia was ordered to deposit her international passport to the DCR of the court latest 6 pm Thursday.
She was thereafter released on bail to her counsel and the bail to be perfected within 10 days excluding the public holidays failure which her release to her counsel will be revoked.
The matter was adjourned till May 15 for trial.
However, the court ordered the issuance of summons to Obla to appear in court on next adjourned date to take his plea.