Court grants ‘corrupt’ judge permission to travel abroad

An Ikeja high court has granted Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, a judge standing trial over alleged corruption, permission to travel abroad.

Godwin Obla, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who is also on trial, was allowed to go overseas.

In separate applications, Obla and Ofili-Ajumogobia had requested the release of their international passports, to enable them seek medical treatment overseas.

In a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of her application, the judge claimed to be suffering from high blood pressure, hypertension, palpitations, and stress-related issues.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had opposed the applications, saying it was a ploy to stall the trial.

He argued that their alleged illnesses could be treated in Nigeria.

In his ruling on Thursday, Hakeem Oshodi, the presiding judge, ordered the release of their international passports which had been in the custody of the court, as part of their bail conditions.

Oshodi also noted that the EFCC did not provide proof that the alleged illnesses of the defendants could be treated in Nigeria.

“The prosecution failed to give evidence why the applicant’s sicknesses cannot be treated in Nigeria,” he said.

“Also how the prosecutor came to the decision that the defendants would jump bail is best known to him.

“I believe that the first defendant, as a federal high court judge, has a lot to lose if she considers the idea of jumping bail.

“The chief registrar is hereby ordered to release the international passport of the first defendant to enable her travel abroad between June 7 and June 13, 2017.

“The first defendant must return the passport to the chief registrar on or before July 1, 2017.”

Granting Obla permission to travel to Houston, Texas, in the US for medical treatment, Oshodi noted that the SAN’s passport must be returned to the court on July 4.

“The second defendant is also granted leave to travel for medical treatment and must also return his passport to the Chief Registrar on July 4,” he said.

After the ruling, Charles Musa, a lawyer, testified as the 10th prosecution witness for the anti-graft agency.

The EFFC alleged that Musa, a classmate and friend of the judge, drafted the deed of agreement of Nigel and Colive Ltd, a company linked by the anti-graft agency to Ofili-Ajumogobia with another company, County and City Bricks Ltd.

According to the EFCC, the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd. was allegedly used to launder funds illegally by Ofili-Ajumogobia during her tenure as a judge.

Musa, who was being led in evidence by Oyedepo, denied signing or drafting the deed of agreement between the two companies.

“I sent her an email about the terms of agreement between the companies and she did not get back to me again,” Musa said.

Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla, a former prosecutor of the EFCC, are jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice.

Obla is facing an additional two-count charge of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.

Ofili-Ajumogobia is facing a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.

Both denied all the charges.

The case was adjourned until July 6 for continuation of trial.