Bribery scandal: Ajumogobia was a high networth customer, bank official tells court

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adewale Oshodi, on Friday, told an Ikeja High Court how he did not verify the huge amounts of money which embattled Judge of a Federal High Court,  Justice Rita Ngozi Ajumogobia, gave him to pay into her dollar account domiciled in Diamond Bank.

Oshodi, who is the branch manager of one of the branches of the bank during cross examination, further told the court that though he was expected to  ask for the source of funds from his customers, he decided to look the other way because Justice Ajumogobia was a high networth customer.

During further cross-examination by Ajumogobia’s counsel, Olawale Akoni, the witness told the court that the maximum amount expected to be paid into a dollar account per day was $10, 000, he paid $150, 000, $30, 000, $30, 000 and also $70, 000 between 2013 and 2015 when he was her account officer.

Oshodi, however, also added that he was not aware that Ajumogobia got the money from the proceeds of properties she sold, adding that she did not at any point tell him about the source of the funds.

Justice Ajumogobia is standing trial alongside a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, who was accused of offering a N5 million bribe to the Judge.

The anti-graft agency also accused Ajumogobia of living above her means as a public officer.

During Friday’s proceedings,  the EFCC also called another witness, Ogo Okafo, a relationship Officer with Acesss Bank, who told the court that Ajumogobia maintained several accounts in the bank, apart from her salary account, which is also domiciled in the bank.

Okafo further told the court that in 2012, Ajumogobia  recieved the sum of N2.9 million from the Nigerian Customs Service as estacode.

The witness  added that the Judge further received a credit of N18 million from one Arkleen Oil and Gas, while also receiving an estacode of N2.1 million from the Federal High Court.

“There was also an inflow of N20 million into the account in favour of Justice Ajumogobia,” Okafo said, adding that she, sometimes, went to the Judge’s chambers at Kofo Abayomi Drive, between September 2013 and December 2015, when she was the accounts officer of the defendant.

Earlier in the proceedings,  Ajumogobia’s counsel, Akoni, had raised objections to the admissability of the second witness statement, which he said was not served on them, also adding that what was frontloaded was what was served to them.

EFCC’s prosecutor,  Rotimi Oyedepo, however, pointed out that the objection to the admissibility of the documents was miscontrued, adding that the proof of evidence was relevant to the case.

The presiding Judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, however, adjourned the matter till March 17 for cross examination of the witness and continuation of trial.

Ajumogobia was charged to court on a 30 count charge bordering on bribery and also enriching herself as a public officer, charges which she told the court she was not guilty of.

The embattled judge was also accused of receiving a total of $793,800 in several branchesf rom different sources between 2012 and 2015.

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