A former judge of the federal high court in Nigeria, who was dismissed, and who goes by the name, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, has been apprehended by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC today, Tuesday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, it was a sort of drama scenario at the premises of an Ikeja High Court when the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC took hold of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, after corruption charges against her were struck out.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN has also reported that about 10 officials of the EFCC surrounded Ofili-Ajumogobia while attempting to leave the courtroom at 10.24 a.m immediately after the ruling by Justice Hakeem Oshodi.
Upon sighting the officials, the judge made a hasty retreat and went back upstairs into Justice Oshodi’s courtroom to seek the protection of the court from the EFCC officials.
Justice Oshodi, when notified about the development, said there was nothing he could do as “the file had been closed.”
The embattled former judge and her husband who was with her were observed frantically making various phone calls, according to NAN.
Mr. Godwin Obla. SAN, Ofili-Ajumogobia’s codefendant was however allowed to exit the court premises by officials of the EFCC.
However, when Justice Oshodi’s court rose, she was apprehended at 11.47 a.m. by some EFCC officials who whisked her away in a white Hilux van with Abuja plate number BWR637AT.
NAN has reported that earlier, Justice Oshodi, in a ruling struck out the 31-count charge filed by the EFCC against Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.
The judge was said to have ruled that based on the judicial precedent set by the case of Justice Nganjiwa Vs FRN, the EFCC had “jumped the gun” in filing the first amended charge.
Justice Oshodi noted that the anti-graft commission had not followed the procedures set by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in disciplining erring judicial officers.
(NAN)
