Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia challenges court jurisdiction over her corruption trial

A Federal High Court judge accused of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, has challenged the jurisdiction of an Ikeja High Court to hear her ongoing trial.

The case which came up on Monday saw Robert Clarke (SAN), the embattled justice’s new lead counsel, challenging the court’s jurisdiction in an application brought before Justice Hakeem Oshodi.

Clark said, “We have two pending applications before this court and one was taken during the last proceeding but we are yet to receive a response from the court,” Clark said.

In her response, the presiding judge, Justice Oshodi said, “You people just shot yourselves on the foot because this application should have been taken first and it is obviously not ripe for hearing. For that same reason, every other application must wait for this particular one to be taken; because if I don’t have jurisdiction, how can the case continue?”

However, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), the defence counsel to Godwin Obla, Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia’s co-defendant, prayed the court to hear the application together with the suit in order to speed up the trial.

He further noted that the application before the court is just for the first defendant.

He argued, “Even though this is a joint trial, the application before your Lordship is for the first defendant and not of the second defendant.”

Clark, aligning himself with Adedipe added, “If my motion would delay the second defendant matter, I would, therefore, withdraw my motion temporarily to allow the defendant take his motion”.

Justice Oshodi replying said, “This is not a game of chess and this court would not permit such. This is law and not where people play by assumptions or chance”.

The trial judge insisted his position on the matter remains same and adjourned the matter till April 28, 2017, as previously fixed for hearing of the pending application.

EFCC had in the suit before the court alleged that Obla offered a gratification of N5million to Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, while appearing in a matter before the justice allegedly to induce her to compromise judgement.

The anti-graft agency further accused her of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015.

The offense EFCC claimed, was contrary to sections 64 (1) and 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.

They defendants had since pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and were granted bail on self-recognition.

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