Court grants Justice Ajumogobia permission to travel abroad for medical treatment

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted the prayer of the embattled Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for medical treatment abroad. At the ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Oshodi asked the embattled judge to return to Nigeria by July 1, 2017. “The Chief Registrar is hereby ordered […]

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted the prayer of the embattled Federal High Court judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for medical treatment abroad.

At the ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Oshodi asked the embattled judge to return to Nigeria by July 1, 2017.

“The Chief Registrar is hereby ordered to release the international passport of the 2nd defendant to enable her travel abroad. The defendant must return the passport to the Chief Registrar on or before July 1, 2017,” Justice Oshodi said.

The judge has been standing trial alongside a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla who were both accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of receiving a total of $793, 800 in several tranches from different sources between 2012 and 2015.

Ajumogobia was also accused of giving false information to EFCC operatives by claiming to be on admission in Lagos which was found out to  be false, an offence contrary to section 39 (2)a of the EFCC Establishment Act.

According to the EFCC, both the first and second defendants engaged in conspiracy to pervert the course of justice contrary to section 97 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No. 11, 2011.