EFCC gives reasons why they can't release Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia now

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has disclosed why Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia should remain in custody.

The EFCC urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to refuse an application by the embattled Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia seeking immediate release from the EFCC custody.

Ofili-Ajumogobia has been in EFCC custody since November 8.

The EFCC arrested her while probing the source of about $793,800, which the EFCC claimed passed through her domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015.

But Ofili-Ajumogobia filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit seeking immediate release from custody.

Her lawyer, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), contended that the continued detention of his client was a violation of her right.

He added that even the remand order obtained by the EFCC to detain her had since elapsed.

On Friday, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Abdullahi Idris, urged the court not to order the release of Ofili-Ajumogobia, saying it was afraid that the detained judge would tamper with its evidence if released on bail.

“The applicant (Ofili-Ajumogobia) was inducing and interfering with our investigation since after she was released on bail, which formed the basis of the revocation of the bail earlier granted her,” Idris told Justice Muslim Hassan who is presiding over the case.

He said investigation by the EFCC had “yielded serious positive result,” leading to the filing of a criminal charge against the judge before Justice T. Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.

Idris said Justice Oshodi had fixed next Monday, November 28, 2016 for Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s arraignment.

He said ordering her release from custody would prejudice the charge pending before Justice Oshodi and urged Justice Hassan to refuse the embattled judge’s application.