Alleged Money Laundering: Ofili-Ajumogobia Re-arraigned, Granted Bai
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, #EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, on
Thursday, April 18, 2019, re-arraigned Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia
before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in
Ikoyi, Lagos on 18-count charge, bordering on breach of trust, false
statement and unlawful enrichment.
Ofili-Ajumogobia was charged alongside Godwin Obla, SAN.
The
defendant allegedly received a sum of $655,000 (Six Hundred and
Fifty-five Thousand Dollars) and N35million (Thirty-five Million Naira)
in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015.
One
of the charges reads: “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi
Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 11th day of July, 2014 in Nigeria,
within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, indirectly concealed
the total sum of N12, 000, 000.00 (Twelve Million Naira) in the Diamond
Bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd, opened and operated by you, which
sum you reasonably ought to have known, forms parts proceeds of unlawful
act to wit: criminal breach of trust.”
Ofili-Ajumogobia pleaded not guilty to charge when it was read to her.
In
view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the
court for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in
prison custody pending the determination of the case before the court. .
However,
the defence counsel, O. Akoni, SAN, told the court that “the defence
filed a bail application this morning due to the fact that the defendant
was served with the charge on Wednesday, April 17, 2019”. He,
therefore, urged the court to admit his client to bail.
In his
response, the prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, who said he was served with
the copy of the bail application in court this morning, said he would
need time to peruse the affidavit in support of the motion for bail,
since the defence relied on the motion. .
The defence counsel Akoni, then withdrew the bail application and opted to make an oral application.
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