JUSTICE RITA OFILI-AJUMOGHOBIA UNDER EFCC SEARCHLIGHT

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FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN THE JUDICIARY IN NIGERIA  Following the renewed fight against corruption, especially in the judiciary has seen several high ranking members of the Bench arrested recently.

With this development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC is set to impound some properties of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia which have been valued at over N500m if she cannot provide tenable explanations to their source of funding.

The action of the anti-corruption agency is said to be based on a report by the Commission after a well conducted search of the property in Ikoyi where incriminating documents were said to have been recovered.

According to a report, a source told EFCC, that a house located at 18 Lai Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Ikoyi, Lagos and another one at Atlantic Drive, UPDC Estate, Lekki, were traced to the judge.

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia's property. Photo Credit: Punch

The source said:

“When we first invited her, she told us that she was ill and had been admitted at the Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi. When we visited the place, we found out that she was not there.”

Though the judge defended herself before the commission saying that she got some money from her son who won a case against the London Police but the commission said their investigations revealed that the Deed of Agreement is in someone else’s name but carries her signature.

 The National Judicial Council is reported to have barred her from receiving any promotion for the remainder of her career following the allegations against her.

A company belonging to Ajumogobia was allegedly used to buy the property where her name was not written on any of the official documents.

“We found out that she is a director in a company known as Silver Step Incorporated and that was the name used in buying the London property. The property was bought on mortgage and it was supposed to elapse in 2018. However, payment was completed in 2014,” a source revealed.

CULLED FROM THE SHEET