Courts grants Ofili-Ajumogobia N10m bail but seizes her passport

A federal high court in Lagos has granted a N10 million bail to Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, a former judge.

Ofili-Ajumogobia was re-arraigned before Rilwan Aikawa, her ex-colleague, where she pleaded not guilty to 18 counts bothering on unlawful enrichment, taking property unlawfully, corruption, forgery and giving false information.

The former judge was first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before an Ikeja high court in 2016, but on Tuesday, Hakeem Oshodi, a judge, had struck out the corruption charges against her and Godwin Obla, a co-defendant, on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

However, the former judge was immediately re-arrested by operatives of the EFCC in the court premises and a fresh criminal charge was filed against her.

In her ruling on Thursday, Aikawa ordered the former judge to submit her passport to the deputy chief registrar of the court on or before 6pm.

She said Ofili-Ajumogobia must fulfill the bail conditions within 10 days or it will be revoked.

“I take judicial notice of the Easter holiday and grant bail in the sum of N10m, with one surety in like sum who must have landed property in Lagos,” Aikawa said.

“The surety must not be below grade level 16 in the federal or state civil service. The defendant must deposit her passport with the deputy chief registrar of the court at or before 6.00p.m. today.

“The defendant shall endeavor to fulfill the conditions within 10-days or the bail will be revoked.

“She shall be released to her lead counsel, Wale Akoni (SAN), pending the fulfillment of the other conditions or the expiration of 10 days, whichever comes first.”

Aikawa also issued summons to compel Obla to appear before the court.

“For the second defendant, an order is hereby made for issuance of summons compelling Godwin Obla to appear before the court on the May 15, for the purpose of trial,” the judge ruled.

Earlier, Rotimi Oyedepo,  EFCC’s lead counsel, had called the attention of the judge to a pending charge against Obla and his absence, saying every attempt made to inform Obla of the pending charge proved abortive.

Oyedepo urged the court to give an order compelling Obla to appear before the court on the next adjourned date.

The case was adjourned till May 15 for trial.