Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the early hours of Wednesday conduct a search on the house of suspended Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia.
Leadership learnt that the operatives who stormed the embattled judge residence located at 18B, Lai Ajayi Bembe Street, Park View Estate, Lagos, were on the trail of two of her children.
According to one of the operatives, who does not want his name mentioned, they were at the house to conduct a search of the house time ascertain the whereabouts of two of the judge’s children, who were said to have failed to honour the EFCC invitation to answer some questions in relation to some huge sum of money which they dealt with.
The source also said that the judge initially refused to allow the EFCC gain access into her home but following the intervention of some members of her family the commission was given the assurance that the two children will be produced at the commission to answer any questions and help with the investigation.
This development is coming eight days after a Court had urged the anti-corruption agency to be professional in performing its duties.
The EFCC had arraigned Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia alongside Mr. Godwin Obla, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on November 28, before Justice O.H. Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on a 30-count charge ranging from conspiracy to pervert the course of justice,
offering gratification to a public official, and unlawful enrichment by public official among others.
Ajumogobia and Obla were in EFCC detention since early November before they were arraigned.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Thereafter, counsel to Ajumogobia, Wale Akoni (SAN) and counsel to Obla, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) moved applications for them to be
granted bail.
They were granted bail in the sum of N20 million and on self- recognition.
The next day, a Court threw out Ajumogobia’s fundamental rights suit, and urged EFCC to be professional in its operations.
Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos had lashed out at EFCC over the way and manner it carried out its probe of Ofili-Ajumogobia.
While delivering judgement in the N50million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Justice Ajumogobia against the anti-graft
agency over her prolonged detention, Justice Hassan urged the EFCC to be professional in performing its duties.
Justice Ajumogobia, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, sought among other things, an order of the court declaring her continued detention by the EFCC as illegal.
While noting that although the EFCC is vested with powers to arrest and detain any citizen suspected to have committed any offence,
Justice Hassan said such powers must be exercised with caution.
The judge questioned the rationale behind the revocation of the administrative bail granted to Justice Ajumogobia by the EFCC on October 22, 2016, when she is not a flight risk.
He said: “The respondent should have exercised restraints in revoking the bail earlier granted the applicant. There was no evidence that the applicant is a flight risk.
“The respondent is hereby counselled to be professional and to always exercise caution and restraints in the exercise of its powers.”
