Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 23, 2019 adjourned to May 31, 2019 further hearing in the case involving Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla, SAN.

The defendants were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, on an 18-count charge bordering on breach of trust, false statement and unlawful enrichment.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia and Godwin Obla, SAN, on or about the 21st day of May, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to indirectly conceal the sum of N5, 000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel & Colive Ltd., which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act to wit: unlawful enrichment.”

Another count reads: “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 11th day of July, 2014 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, indirectly concealed the total sum of N12, 000,000.00 (Twelve Million Naira) in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd., opened and operated by you, which sum you reasonably ought to have known, forms parts proceeds of unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust.”

At the last sitting, counsel to the first defendant, Robert Clarke, SAN, informed the court that he had filed and served on the prosecution an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to further hear the suit filed against his client by the EFCC.

“My client still remains a judicial officer and is yet to be dismissed as a judge by President Muhammadu Buhari,” he had said.

However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in his response, had told the court that the first defendant is no longer a judicial officer.