A witness in the on going trial of Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on Friday told a Lagos High court how monies were constantly deposited by several persons, including a state government into the account of the embattled judge.
The witness, Clement Okanranwolu was the former account officer of Justice Ajumogobia at Access Bank Plc where she also maintains a salary account. For instance, the witness told Justice Hakeem Oshodi of Ikeja High Court that Delta StateA Government credited the current bank account of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia twice in August 2011, N15m on August 5, 2011; and with N9m on August 29, 2011. N15m was paid into the account with an Oceanic Bank cheque while the N9m was lodged in with a Zenith Bank cheque.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, is currently standing trial before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for alleged bribery and unlawful enrichment. Among other things, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused her of receiving a total of $793,800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015. She is facing a 30 count charge with a senior lawyer, Chief Godwin Obla SAN.
Okaranwolu is the fourth prosecution witness presented before the court by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo. Led in evidence by Oyedepo, the witness told the court that apart from the naira account, the judge also owned two dollars accounts into which lodgments were constantly made by herself and other individuals.
Among the individuals who paid into the judge’s domiciliary account, numbered 0002130929, is one Ken Mozia, who paid in $20,000 on May 7, 2008. Others are Tony Iwobi, who paid $10,000 into the account on April 16, 2008; Ali D, who paid in $10,000 on June 16, 2007; Subedetu, who paid in $3,000 on April 12, 2011; and AB/GT which paid in $9,900 on April 30, 2013.
The witness was presented with the judge’s statements of accounts, also pointed out to the court several $10,000 lodgments which Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia made by herself and by sending others, including the witness himself and one Donald Ofili. He explained that $10,000 was the maximum daily deposit allowed. Between 2007 and 2011, as pointed out by the witness, the two dollar accounts received a total credit of $693,000 deposited by the judge and other individuals.
Presented with the judge’s naira account statement, the witness pointed names of different individuals who credited the account at one time or the other. Among them are one Ayegba Abdullahi who credited the account with N1m on August 17, 2011; and Mrs. Bola Latinwo who paid N700,000 and N500,000 into the account on October 5 and November 20, 2011 respectively.
Further proceedings in the matter has been adjourned till April 28, 2017.
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