Controversial High Court Judge Ignores EFCC Invitation

 

According to Sahara Reporters, a controversial Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia yesterday ignored an invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to its office in continuation of the government’s investigation of some members of the judiciary.

 

It would be recalled that the current administration in the past two weeks has employed the Gestapo Style in sanitizing the judicial arm of government over strong petitions of corruption and malpractices against some judges.

 

Sequel to the invitation letters sent by the commission to several members of the bench, Justice Musa Haruna Kurya appeared at the its Lagos Office at about 10:00am.

The judge, who was accompanied by his lawyer, was immediately attended to by operatives of the commission. Yesterday, Justices Mohammed Nasir Yunusa and Nganjiwa Hyledzira, also of the Federal High Court, answered their invitations and their statements were obtained.

No immediate explanation was available concerning the absence of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia. A sources speculated she may have fled the country.

It would also be recalled that in March this year, the National Judicial Council (NJC) imposed heavy disciplinary measures on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia, including precluding her from any promotions to the Court of Appeal or any Ad-hoc Judicial appointment until her retirement from the profession. It also put her on the “Watch-List” of the Council for four years.

The decisions followed an electoral petition filed by one Victoria Ayeni which the NJC appeared to find credible. The petitioner had alleged misconduct and injustice by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia for failing to deliver judgment in a pre-election suit between her and her political rivals.