- EFCC has revealed why it re-arrested a former judge of Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia
- The commission said it acted according to the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria
- Justice Hakeem Oshodi of Ikeja high court, struck out 30 count charge leveled against the embattled judge
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has revealed why it re-arrested a former Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, after she was discharged by the court on Tuesday, April 16.
Premium Times reports that the anti-graft agency said it acted in line with the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria by the judge's re-arrest.
Legit.ng gathered that Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was re-arrested at the premises of an Ikeja High Court after she was discharged of corruption charges by Justice Hakeem Oshodi.
Oshodi, in his ruling, struck out the 31-count charge filed by the EFCC against Ofili-Ajumogobia and a lawyer, Godwin Obla, on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.
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The judge ruled that based on the judicial precedent set by the court of appeal, the EFCC had “jumped the gun” in filing the first amended charge against the former Federal High Court judge.
Oshodi noted that the anti-graft commission had not followed the procedures set by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in disciplining erring judicial officers.
In its statement on Tuesday afternoon, the EFCC said it re-arrested Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia to enable it to prefer a fresh criminal charge against her.
It said it had since taken Ofili-Ajumogobia to the NJC which had ruled on her matter.
The commission said it re-arrested Ofili-Ajumogobia in line with the decision of the Appeal Court, Lagos division, in a case involving Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, where it said that a judge could not be prosecuted until he or she had either been dismissed or compulsorily retired by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The statement read: ''Consequent upon the fact that the commission had presented Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before the NJC for disciplinary action and that the NJC had taken a position, the commission would now approach the court to prefer fresh charges her.
''The commission had first arraigned Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla, SAN, on a 30-count charge on Monday, November 28, 2016, on offences bordering on perve.rsion of the course of justice, graft, unlawful enrichment, providing false information and forgery.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, April 16, laid siege within the premises of Ikeja high court in a bid to arrest a former Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia.
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Source: Legit.ng
