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Court To Rule On Ajumogobia’s Application June 28

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed Friday, June 28 to rule on a preliminary objection filed by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, challenging her trial before the court.


Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia

 

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed Friday, June 28 to rule on a preliminary objection filed by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, challenging her trial before the court.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa fixed the date after listening to the arguments of parties on the issue Justice Ajumogobia’s counsel, Mr Robert Clarke, in moving his application on the preliminary objection, told the court that his client is still a judge of the federal high court.

As such, she could not be tried in line with the precedent set in the case of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.

He also noted that a letter exhibited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), purportedly written and signed by the president to the chief justice of Nigeria, approving her sack in line with the NJC’s recommendation is not enough to satisfy the Evidence Act 2011.

In his response, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court to rely on the exhibits placed by the prosecution before the court and to dismiss the application.

In another application, the second defendant, Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria through his counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), is also seeking the variation of his bail conditions.

He asked the court to allow him retain custody of his international passport.