Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia who was arrested at the premises of an Ikeja High Court by officials of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, April 16th, 2019
has been arraigned before Justice Rilwan
Aikawa of the Federal High Court on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
She was arraigned alongside Godwin Obla (SAN) over alleged money laundering.
However, the EFCC could not produce Godwin Obla before
Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court.EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that efforts to reach Godwin Obla proved abortive, claiming that his phones were switched off.
He said that Obla’s counsel could not also confirm his whereabouts. Oyedepo urged the court to allow Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia to be arraigned alone pending production in court of Obla.
The court granted the prayer. Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia pleaded not guilty to an 18-count charge.
EFCC alleged that the duo conspired on May 21, 2014, to indirectly conceal N5 million in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd., which they “reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act”.
The alleged offences contravened Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.
The EFCC also accused Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing N12 million in the same account, adding that she falsely claimed that the money was payment for a sold property. Aikawa will later give a ruling on a bail application by the former judge.